Annotation
In the state of acute crisis that characterizes Europe and the rise of populist rhetoric, a better understanding of democracy becomes indispensable. How "democratic" is the EU? What role do public opinion and citizen support for the EU play in its democratic development? What are the tensions affecting both representation and more direct forms of democratic participation at the EU level? Does the EU have a "democratic deficit" or, on the contrary, has it strengthened democracy among its members, especially in the new members from post-communist Eastern Europe? Or, what about the impact of EU policies on the democratic facet of other member states, particularly the bailout countries of the 2008-2009 financial crisis? These are some of the questions we will ask, answer, and debate throughout the course.
For detailed info see the syllabus of the course (attached file).