Democratic deficit
Encyclopedia
A democratic deficit is considered to be occurring when ostensibly democratic
organizations or institutions (particularly government
s) are seen to be falling short of fulfilling the principles of the parliamentary democracy in their practices or operation where representative and linked parliamentary integrity becomes widely discussed.
The phrase democratic deficit is cited as first being used by the Young European Federalists in their Manifesto in 1977.
The phrase was also used by David Marquand
in 1979, referring to the then European Economic Community
, the forerunner of the European Union
.
suffers from a democratic deficit, because it lacks a body of directly elected representatives. The UN Parliamentary Assembly has been proposed as a way of ameliorating this deficit. However, even the creation of such an organ would not affect the great power veto in the UN Security Council, under which important UN decisions can be vetoed by China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom or the United States. Reform of the UN Security Council through amendments to the United Nations Charter
could change this, but such reform would itself be subject to the great power veto.
(EU) is a unique organisation – not a federal state, yet not just an International Organisation. Whether there is a democratic deficit in the EU depends on how it is viewed. Compared to an ideally democratic Nation-State
the EU is less democratic and thus has a democratic deficit. If the EU, however, is compared to an International Organisation like the World Trade Organisation, the World Bank
or the United Nations
the EU has a democratic surplus.
The biggest democratic difficulties for the European Union
are the low popular interest in the EU, the already low and consistently decreasing turnout in elections to the European Parliament
, the divide between politicians and the general population on european integration
, the complicated and technocratic nature of EU decision-making processes, and the activism of the European Court of Justice
.
There is no consensus as to whether the Lisbon Treaty reduces or increases the democratic deficit in the European Union. The Lisbon Treaty increases the power of the democratically elected European Parliament
and introduces the Citizen's initiative. The Lisbon Treaty is, however, being ratified by the governments of counties whose people would most likely reject the treaty if it was put to a democratic referendum
.
The Labour Party
is in favour of devolution to Regions of England
, whereas the Conservative Party prefers "English Votes on English Laws". Some political parties such as the English Democrats Party want a full English parliament. The Liberal Democrats
are currently reviewing their policies on this subject.
mentioned that
In its previous report in 2002, OSCE/ODIHR mission has claimed that
As of 2011, non-citizens of Latvia have no voting rights not only at parliamentary, but also at local and European elections (citizens of other EU member states can vote in these elections).
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
organizations or institutions (particularly government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
s) are seen to be falling short of fulfilling the principles of the parliamentary democracy in their practices or operation where representative and linked parliamentary integrity becomes widely discussed.
The phrase democratic deficit is cited as first being used by the Young European Federalists in their Manifesto in 1977.
The phrase was also used by David Marquand
David Marquand
David Ian Marquand FBA, FRHistS, FRSA is a British academic and former Labour Party Member of Parliament .Born in Cardiff, Marquand was educated at Emanuel School, Magdalen College, Oxford, St. Antony’s College, Oxford, and at the University of California, Berkeley...
in 1979, referring to the then European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
, the forerunner of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.
United Nations
Many authors have argued that the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
suffers from a democratic deficit, because it lacks a body of directly elected representatives. The UN Parliamentary Assembly has been proposed as a way of ameliorating this deficit. However, even the creation of such an organ would not affect the great power veto in the UN Security Council, under which important UN decisions can be vetoed by China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom or the United States. Reform of the UN Security Council through amendments to the United Nations Charter
Amendments to the United Nations Charter
Amendments to the United Nations Charter can be made by a procedure set out in Chapter XVIII of the UN Charter. The UN Charter has been amended five times since 1945....
could change this, but such reform would itself be subject to the great power veto.
European Union
The European UnionEuropean Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
(EU) is a unique organisation – not a federal state, yet not just an International Organisation. Whether there is a democratic deficit in the EU depends on how it is viewed. Compared to an ideally democratic Nation-State
Nation-state
The nation state is a state that self-identifies as deriving its political legitimacy from serving as a sovereign entity for a nation as a sovereign territorial unit. The state is a political and geopolitical entity; the nation is a cultural and/or ethnic entity...
the EU is less democratic and thus has a democratic deficit. If the EU, however, is compared to an International Organisation like the World Trade Organisation, the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
or the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
the EU has a democratic surplus.
The biggest democratic difficulties for the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
are the low popular interest in the EU, the already low and consistently decreasing turnout in elections to the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
, the divide between politicians and the general population on european integration
European integration
European integration is the process of industrial, political, legal, economic integration of states wholly or partially in Europe...
, the complicated and technocratic nature of EU decision-making processes, and the activism of the European Court of Justice
European Court of Justice
The Court can sit in plenary session, as a Grand Chamber of 13 judges, or in chambers of three or five judges. Plenary sitting are now very rare, and the court mostly sits in chambers of three or five judges...
.
There is no consensus as to whether the Lisbon Treaty reduces or increases the democratic deficit in the European Union. The Lisbon Treaty increases the power of the democratically elected European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
and introduces the Citizen's initiative. The Lisbon Treaty is, however, being ratified by the governments of counties whose people would most likely reject the treaty if it was put to a democratic referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
.
United Kingdom
Devolution was introduced in 1998 in Scotland and Wales, but not in England.The Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
is in favour of devolution to Regions of England
Regions of England
In England, the region is the highest tier of sub-national division used by central Government. Between 1994 and 2011, the nine regions had an administrative role in the implementation of UK Government policy, and as the areas covered by elected bodies...
, whereas the Conservative Party prefers "English Votes on English Laws". Some political parties such as the English Democrats Party want a full English parliament. The Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
are currently reviewing their policies on this subject.
Latvia
OSCE mission monitoring the 2006 parliamentary electionsLatvian parliamentary election, 2006
The most recent elections for the 9th Saeima, the parliament of Latvia, were held on October 7, 2006. There were lists of candidates from 19 political parties...
mentioned that
In its previous report in 2002, OSCE/ODIHR mission has claimed that
As of 2011, non-citizens of Latvia have no voting rights not only at parliamentary, but also at local and European elections (citizens of other EU member states can vote in these elections).
See also
- Direct democracyDirect democracyDirect democracy is a form of government in which people vote on policy initiatives directly, as opposed to a representative democracy in which people vote for representatives who then vote on policy initiatives. Direct democracy is classically termed "pure democracy"...
- Elective dictatorshipElective dictatorshipAn "elective dictatorship" is a phrase coined by the former Lord Chancellor of the United Kingdom, Lord Hailsham, in a Richard Dimbleby Lecture at the BBC in 1976. It describes the state in which Parliament is dominated by the government of the day...
- Freedom deficitFreedom deficitFreedom deficit is a term coined by a group of Arab scholars for the UNDP Arab Human Development Report in 2002. As defined in the report, a freedom deficit exists when there is "a substantial lag between Arab countries and other regions in terms of participatory government," where "freedom" is...
- Political alienationPolitical alienationPolitical alienation refers to an individual citizen's relatively enduring sense of estrangement from or rejection of the prevailing political system....
- Popular assemblyPopular assemblyA popular or people's assembly is a gathering called to address issues of importance to participants. Assemblies tend to be freely open to participation and operate by direct democracy...