Ein Maß für Demokratie: Europäische Demokratien im Vergleich = A Measure for Democracy: European Democracies in Comparison. IHS Political Science Series: 2001, No. 76

Abromeit, Heidrun (2001) Ein Maß für Demokratie: Europäische Demokratien im Vergleich = A Measure for Democracy: European Democracies in Comparison. IHS Political Science Series: 2001, No. 76.

Abstract

Can you measure democracy? Based on previous attempts to operationalise the term "democracy" in such a way that it can be used as a measuring instrument (especially on David Beetham’s indicator-system which forms the basis for his "democratic audit"), a concept will be presented that does not (mis-)understand democracy from the outset as a specific set of institutions but (1) connects democracy firmly to the self-determination of individuals and (2) puts the political institutions in relation to the respective societal structure. Several political systems are then measured by applying this "measure for democracy:" the "motherland of democracy" Great Britain, the "half-direct" democracy of Switzerland and the still evolving political system of the European Union. The following points will be up for examination: - the centres of decision-making and the main actors (inter alia with respect to the question: who takes the final decision?) - the societal structure - the "opportunity structures"; i. e.: where do the "people" come in?