The more (European integration) there is, the more (Euroscepticism) there is: Euroscepticism as reactive identity formation and the importance of opposition. Where might the EU institutions go from here? Bruges Political Research Papers 73/2019

Westlake, Martin (2019) The more (European integration) there is, the more (Euroscepticism) there is: Euroscepticism as reactive identity formation and the importance of opposition. Where might the EU institutions go from here? Bruges Political Research Papers 73/2019. [Policy Paper]

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Abstract

The first part of this paper examines the evolution of the EU in relation to the themes of reactive identity formation, a relentless positive integration narrative, the importance of opposition within the EU system, and the need for more politics. The second section reviews recent historical research showing that consensuality and supranationality have been intertwined in constructive complicity since the outset of the European integration process, but also how subsequent majority requirements and pernicious electoral arithmetic have consolidated this ‘consensus lock’, particularly in the European Parliament. The last section concludes that more opposition and politics within the system may be necessary but will not of themselves automatically be sufficient to bring about a functioning parliamentary democracy at EU level.

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