Full Description
Citizen Participation in Multi-level Democracies offers an overview of new forms of participatory democracy in federally and regionally organised multi-level states. Its four sections focus on the conceptual foundations of participation, the implementation and instruments of democracy, examples from federal and regional States, and the emergence of participation on the European level.
There is today a growing disaffection amongst the citizens of many states towards the traditional models of representative democracy. This book highlights the various functional and structural problems with which contemporary democracies are confronted and which lie at the root of their peoples' discontent. Within multi-level systems in particular, the fragmentation of state authority generates feelings of powerlessness among citizens. In this context, citizens' participation can in many cases be a useful complement to the representative and direct forms of democracy.
Contents
Preface;
Citizen Participation in Multi-Level Democracies - an Introduction Karl-Peter Sommermann;
PART ONE - Conceptual Foundation
Chapter I. Federalism and Democracy - Compatible or at Odds with One Another? Re-examining a Tense Relationship Arthur Benz and Jared Sonnicksen;
Chapter II. Participation, Federalism and Pluralism: Challenges to Decision-making and Responses by Constitutionalism Francesco Palermo;
Chapter III. Federalism, People's Legislation and Associative Democracy Sabine Kropp;
Chapter IV. Forms of Democratic Participation in Multi-Level-Systems Anna Gamper;
PART TWO - Concretisation and Instruments of Democracy
Chapter V. Direct and Representative Democracy: The Perspective of German Citizens Oscar W. Gabriel;
Chapter VI. Perspectives on the Institutionalization of Citizen Participation at the Municipal Level: a First-Hand Report Helmut Klages;
Chapter VII. E-Participation in Germany - New forms of Citizen Involvement between Vision and Reality Mario Martini and Saskia Fritzsche;
Chapter VIII. Financing Popular Initiatives and Referendum Campaigns Nadja Braun Binder;
Chapter IX. Participation and Administrative Procedure Jutta Stender-Vorwachs;
Chapter X. "Liquid Democracy": Solution or Problem? Margrit Seckelmann;
PART THREE - Examples from Federal and Regional States
Chapter XI. Participatory democracy in Multi-level States Umberto Allegretti;
Chapter XII. Direct Democracy and Citizen Participation in the Austrian Federal State Peter Bußjäger;
Chapter XIII. Italian Regionalism: Participation and Plebiscitary Models Cristina Fraenkel-Haeberle;
Chapter XIV. Direct Democracy in the Swiss Federation Zoltán Tibor Pállinger;
Chapter XV. The Referendum in the United Kingdom: Instrument for Greater Constitutional Legitimacy, Tool of Political Convenience or First Step to Revitalize Democracy? Sara Parolari and Jens Woelk;
PART FOUR - Emergence of Participation in European Affairs
Chapter XVII. Towards the Europeanization of Participation? Reflecting on the Functions and Beneficiaries of Participation in EU Environmental Law Birgit Peters;
Chapter XVIII. Participation in EU Governance: A "Multi-Level" Perspective and a "Multifold" Approach Delia Ferri;
Editors; Authors; Index.
