Giving Europe a Human Face. Public Legitimation Strategies and Citizen Representation in the European Community, 1970s-1980s
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2019-08-26
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en
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Contrary to popular belief, the European Union has always cared deeply about public opinion. However, the EU’s longer history of interaction with the public and bottom-up engagement by civil society actors remains neglected. This thesis explores how the European Commission sought to bridge the ‘gap’ between ‘Brussels’ and the ‘man in the street’ between circa 1972-1986. It identifies three strategies to tackle a democratic deficit: 1) citizen-focused public legitimation strategies 2) establishing venues for citizen participation and representation 3) advocating policies responding to citizens’ needs. To appeal to citizens, the Commission espoused an organic discourse of looking after their well-being to reframe the Community as a humane, responsive organization. Furthermore, the Commission established a consultative body for consumer interest groups to appropriate new conceptions of citizen participation and democracy. This indicates a shift from distant politics and sectoral interest-based representation to representing individual citizen-consumers’ interests and desires in European governances.
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Faculteit der Letteren