Polycentricity in the European Union

Analyses European Union governance from the perspective of polycentric theory, aimed at improvements in achieving individual self-governance.

Josephine van Zeben (Edited by), Ana Bobi? (Edited by)

9781108423540, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 11 April 2019

340 pages, 9 tables
23.5 x 15.7 x 2.2 cm, 0.6 kg

Supranational governance is being challenged by politicians and citizens around the EU as over-centralized and undemocratic. This book is premised on the idea that polycentric governance, developed by Vincent and Elinor Ostrom, is a fruitful place to start for addressing this challenge. Assessing the presence of, and potential for, polycentric governance within the EU means approaching established principles and practices from a new perspective. While the debate on these issues is rich, longstanding and interdisciplinary, it has proven difficult to sidestep the 'renationalisation/federalisation' dichotomy. The aim of this volume is not to reject the EU's institutional structure but provide a different benchmark for the assessment of its functioning. Polycentric theory highlights the importance of multilevel horizontal relationships within the EU - between states, but also between many sub-state actors, all the way down to individuals. This helps us answer the question: how do we achieve self-governance in an interdependent world?

Introduction: the potential of a polycentric European Union Josephine van Zeben and Ana Bobi?
1. Polycentricity as a theory of governance Josephine van Zeben
2. Polycentric features of the European Union Josephine van Zeben
3. Democratic self-government in the EU's polycentric system: theoretical remarks Francis Cheneval
4. Polycentric subsidiary Josephine van Zeben and Kalypso Nicolaïdis
5. Polycentricity and the internal market Josephine van Zeben and Ana Bobi?
6. The shared system of rules in a polycentric European Union Ana Bobi?
7. The promises and drawbacks of EU citizenship for a polycentric Union Martijn van den Brink
8. Self-organisation of third-country nationals in the EU: polycentric governance by the 'other' Iris Goldner Lang
9. Peaceful contestation Damjan Kukovec
10. Access to justice in polycentric governance Leticia Díez Sanchez
11. Access to information in polycentric governance Vigjilenca Abazi
12. The capacity to learn in the polycentric European Union Sacha Garben
Conclusions: pathways to polycentricity Josephine van Zeben and Ana Bobi?.

Subject Areas: Law & society [LAQ], Law [L], Social & political philosophy [HPS]