Power, Legitimacy and the European Union

The Brexit referendum was famously won on a claim that the UK had insufficient control of itsown laws. Yet, we face issues larger than any single democracy: climate change, pandemics,wars, banking crises. Surely we need international bodies to deal with those problems?This new book in the European Union Series tackles either side of this debate, equippingstudents with the key normative and sociological theories that they need to understand wherethe EU derives its legitimacy from and what this means for the EU. This book discusses:What right does the EU have to exercise political power?Is the EU necessary for the proper democratic functioning of its members?How does legitimacy shape the sustainability and institutional design of the Union?Which is more justifiable: uniform or differentiated forms of European integration?This book shows how the literature on political legitimacy can help us think more clearlyabout the European Union. It develops new understanding of how the legitimacy of theEU and its member state democracies might depend on one another. It shows how –contrary to the Brexit mantra of regaining control - some kind of European Union may beneeded if citizens are to use their own national democracies to accord one another rightsand obligations and to control their own laws as equals