Citizenship, political authority and constitutionalism in the European Union: A normative theoretical approach
Titel:
Citizenship, political authority and constitutionalism in the European Union: A normative theoretical approach
Auteur:
Dobson, Lynn
Verschenen in:
Journal of european integration
Paginering:
Jaargang 23 (2001) nr. 4 pagina's 335-371
Jaar:
2001
Inhoud:
Constitutional development is at the top of the EU's agenda and raising larger questions about its social and moral order, justice, stability, and cohesion. These are focused through debates as to whether the EU can lay claim to a demos, how state-like it may be, and whether it should have a written Constitution. This paper engages these debates from a standpoint informed by the philosophy of Alan Gewirth, in which political institutions are normatively evaluated in light of their effectuating persons' moral rights to freedom and well-being. It argues the key consideration is the constitution of legitimate political authority, not the form of political organisation. A necessary condition of such authority is citizenship. In turn, effective institutionalisation and exercise of the citizen's role requires capacities only the constitutional context can enable and resources only it can provide. Chief of these is the stabilisation and reflexivity of a Constitution.
Tijdschrift beschrijving