J. Mather – författare

This book examines evolving trends in democracy at EU and UK levels, pointing out the primary shortcomings of both. It examines the relationship between the democratic practices of the EU and the UK, explaining the paradox of the way in which the EU, despite the poor quality of its own democracy, has enabled devolved decision making in a novel multilayer polity. The book also considers future prospects for converged Western European democracy in the light of the Labour government's popularising agenda.

This is a study in EU legitimacy from the perspective of EU citizens. Mather argues that legitimacy is empirical: 'legitimacy only exists if people feel that it does' and that the EU is a unique and dynamic institution, hence legitimating factors are also evolutionary.