Democracy in EuropeBritain and much of Europe is hynptized by the struggle between integrationists and nation-starters, and is set to drift towards unification with little idea of its consitutional options. In ths text, Siedentop sets out the key issues for those who wish to construct a Europe that is prosperous, fair and free. rejecting knee-jerk hostility to the idea of a united states of Europe, Siedentop argues that the main enemy of freedom at national level is precisely the kind of unaccountable, dirigiste and bureaucratic government now developing in Brussels. In its place he champions a steady and openly debated progress towards sovereign democratic institutions which combines a Jeffersonian committment to democracy with a very British attachment to gradual reform and pragmatic government. |
Contents
Democratic Liberty on a Continental Scale? I | 1 |
Where are our Madisons? | 25 |
The Dilemma of Modern Democracy | 47 |
Copyright | |
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American appeal aristocratic associated assumption attitudes authority autonomy become beliefs Britain British called central century Christian Church citizens citizenship civil claims clear condition constitutional course create culture danger democracy democratic discourse distinctive economic effect élite emerged equality especially Europe European example extent fact federal formal founded France French German give habits human idea identity important individual institutions integration interests Italy justice kind language lead least less liberal liberty look major matter means moral nation-states nature norms perhaps political class political culture possible principle privilege question reason recent regional relations remains representative result role rule seen self-government sense shaped shared social society sovereignty sphere status suggest theory things thinking traditional turn understand Union United values wants Western