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This text brings together political theory and debates about European integration, international relations, and the changing nature of citizenship, and offers a coherent and innovative theorisation of a citizenship independent of any specific form of political organisation.
Is there a justification for European integration? The Idea of a European Superstate examines this--the most basic--question raised by the European Union. In doing so, Glyn Morgan assesses the arguments put forward by eurosceptics and their critics. In a challenge to both sides of the debate, Morgan argues in support of a European superstate. Unless Europe forms a unitary sovereign state, Europe will remain, so he maintains, weak and dependent for its security on the United States. The Idea of a European Superstate reshapes the debate on European political integration. It throws down a gauntlet to eurosceptics and euro-enthusiasts alike. While employing the arguments of contemporary political philosophy and international relations, this book is written in an accessible fashion that anyone interested in European integration can understand.
How community organizations and civic engagement drive the success of global health aid. What makes health-related development assistance truly effective? In How Ordinary People Make Aid Work, Stefan Kruse argues that the answer lies in the power of ordinary citizens. By examining the role of community organizations and social movements, Kruse challenges conventional approaches to aid, showing that true accountability requires more than institutional reforms or participatory spaces that offer citizens a seat at the table. Through rigorous analysis and compelling case studies, the book reveals how traditional forms of exercising voice—especially in politically challenging contexts—drive t...
Most rights theories hold that the same act of a person or group cannot be driven by both a right and a duty. This book introduces the theory of initial rights and derived rights, demonstrating that an act is often the result of both. The key idea is that individuals and collectives have the right to fulfill their duty. However, general rights, those people are born with, do not originate from any duty, meaning their choices are not dictated by duties. As a result, access to education is a right, not a duty. The theory of initial and derived rights can extend beyond education to explain broader social dynamics, such as the relationship between government and citizens. This book applies the t...
Understanding world politics today means acknowledging that the state is no longer the only actor in international relations. The interstate system is increasingly challenged by new transnational forces and institutions: multinational companies, cross-border coalitions of social interest groups, globally oriented media, and a growing number of international agencies. These forces increasingly influence interstate decisions and set the agenda of world politics. Though these phenomena have been discussed in the recent literature of international relations, little attention has been given to their impact on political life within and between communities. This book aims to explore the changing me...
Is the European Union still a viable project? The last few years have been difficult both economically and politically, while its integrative function and legitimacy have been seriously tested. For many social, economic and geo-political reasons, its expansionary moment has stopped abruptly. On the contrary, the Greek economic crisis and the Brexit referendum have raised the spectre of fragmentation and political disintegration. The promise of the EU as a possible model for legitimate governance beyond the nation state lies somewhat in tatters. Even if the EU may indeed survive most of its current crises, is the project of a EU as a normative project beyond rescue? Ever since Maastricht, the...
Tolerance is widely regarded as a virtue - of both individuals and groups - that modern democratic and multicultural societies cannot do without. The historical emergence and growth of religious toleration is often seen as an important precondition for the development of political and legal institutions that aim to respect different ideas of the good in society. But the exact nature, limits and forms of expression of toleration are not beyond contestation. The very formulation of the ideal of tolerance is said to give raise to a moral paradox: why tolerate ideas, behaviour and practices that one believes to be wrong? The first part of this collection traces the passage of toleration from a m...
This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the democratic status of the EU political system and the Union's alleged legitimacy crisis. It also examines six different positions on how to address the EU's democratic deficit. Three of these defend the status quo, while the others are calling for democratisation. By examining the strengths and weaknesses of these positions, this book contributes to our understanding of whether it is possible and desirable to democratise the European Union.
This book focuses on constitutional reform in Indonesia (1999-2002) from the perspective of shari'a. Since the end of Soeharto's New Order government in 1998, Indonesia, the largest Muslim country in the world, has amended the 1945 Constitution four times. Soeharto's departure also opened the way for several Muslim groups and political parties to propose the introduction of shari'a into the Constitution.This book poses the crucial question implicit in the amendments to the 1945 Constitution: can shari'a and democratic constitutionalism be fused without compromising on human rights, the rule of law, and religious liberty? The contributions of Islamic political parties in Indonesia to the process and the outcome of the amendments, by adopting a substantive shari'a approach, reflect the ability to deal with a modern Constitution without abandoning the principles and the objectives of shari'a. The study reveals one possible picture of how Islam and constitutionalism can co-exist in the same vision, not without risk of tension, but with the possibility of success.