Democracy, Identity and European Public Spheres

Abstract

The empirical findings of this volume give evidence of Europeanisation in the form of political contestation about matters European. What is the significance for democracy and for the future European Union, of increased politicization in the sense of contestation in various public spheres among political parties about the European polity and regimes – including the territory and competences of the EU. I suggest that there is a third option, in addition to either unfortunate corrosion and fragmentation of the EU or "normalization" of policy contestation, namely permanent salient contestation about constitutional matters – of which the Euro crisis may be only one.