The Challenge of Democratic Representation in the European Union [Hardcover]

What does political representation in the European Union look like? This volume argues that the transformation of representation in the EU is characterized by diversification processes, albeit with an uncertain ability to re-configure the link between representation and democracy.Introduction: Political Representation in the EU: A Second Transformation?; S.Kr?ger & D.Friedrich PART I: WHO REPRESENTS WHOM? ISSUES OF REPRESENTATIVENESS Political Parties at the European Level: Do They Satisfy the Condition of Programmatic Convergence?; E.Sigalas & J.Pollak Interparliamentary Cooperation and Democratic Representation in the European Union; C.Fasone The Committee of the Regions and the Upgrading of Subnational Territorial Representation; S.Piattoni Who do They Represent? Mixed Modes of Representation in EU-based CSOs; H.Johansson Representing Their Members? Civil Society Organizations in the EU's External Relations; M.Rodekamp PART II: THE POLITICS OF CLAIMS-MAKING The Plural Representative Space: How Mass Media and National Parliaments Stimulate Pluralism Through Competition; P.de Wilde A Media Perspective on Political Representation: Online Claims Making and Audience Formation in 2009 EP Election Campaigns; A.Michailidou & H-J.Trenz Unelected Representatives in the Europolitical Field. CSOs Between Berlin and Brussels; E.Jentges PART III: REPERCUSSIONS OF THE EU ON POLITICAL REPRESENTATION From the Margins of European Integration to the Guardians of the Treaties? The Role of National Parliaments in the EU; T.Raunio The Europeanization of Regional Assemblies: a Comparison Between Different Ways of Approaching the Representative Challenge in EU Affairs; E.Griglio Interest Representation in the EU, is there any? A Top-down Perspective; S.Smismans Democracy Promoter or Interest Defender? How the European Commission Influences Non-electoral Representation by Civil Society Organizations; S.Kr?ger Representing Workers or Presenting EU Prescriptions? Trade Unions flóm