Articles for author: Jan-Werner Müller

Populist Constitutions – A Contradiction in Terms?

The meaning of “populism” is deeply contested.  It is striking, though, that many observers appear to agree on one point: whatever else it is, populism is inherently hostile to the mechanisms and, ultimately, the values commonly associated with constitutionalism: constraints on the will of the majority, checks and balances, protections for minorities, and even fundamental rights as such.  Populists are supposedly impatient with procedures; they are even said to be against “institutions” as such, preferring a direct, unmediated relationship between the personal leader and the people.  Connected with this supposed anti-institutionalism is the charge that populists dislike representation and opt ... continue reading

23. April 2017

The Commission gets the point – but not necessarily the instruments

This week the European Commission issued a Communication about a new framework for protecting the rule of law within EU Member States.[1] Is this the long hoped for mechanism that allows the EU to deal with internal threats to liberal democracy (the democratic deficits within Member States, so to speak) effectively? The clear-cut answer is: yes and no. This week the European Commission issued a Communication about a new framework for protecting the rule of law within EU Member States.[1] Is this the long hoped for mechanism that allows the EU to deal with internal threats to liberal democracy (the democratic deficits within Member States, so to speak) effectively? The clear-cut answer is: yes and no.

15. März 2014

The Idea of Democracy Protection in the EU Revisited

The EU Commission and the EU Parliament seem to be less ineffective than some expected in responding to deteriorations in democracy and rule of law within member states like Hungary. But will such selective pressure suffice? Jan-Werner Müller reports on the most recent developments in Brussels and, in a final contribution to Verfassungsblog's online symposium "Hungary – Taking Action", answers to the critics of his suggestion to install an independent "Copenhagen Commission".

23. Juni 2013

The Idea of Democracy Protection in the EU Revisited

Im Umgang mit Mitgliedsstaaten, in denen Demokratie und Rechtsstaatlichkeit ins Rutschen kommen, zeigen sich EU-Kommission und EU-Parlament weniger hilflos und unentschlossen, als manche befürchtet hatten. Doch reicht solch punktueller Druck aus? Jan-Werner Müller berichtet über die jüngsten Entwicklungen in Brüssel und antwortet zum Abschluss des Verfassungsblogs-Symposiums "Ungarn - was tun?" auf die Kritiker seines Vorschlags, als unabhängige Instanz eine "Kopenhagen-Kommission" einzurichten.

23. Juni 2013

Die EU als wehrhafte Demokratie, oder: Warum Brüssel eine Kopenhagen-Kommission braucht

Kann es innerhalb der Europäischen Union eine Diktatur geben?  Vor ein paar Jahren wäre solch eine Frage noch als interessante Spielerei in der politischen Theorie abgetan worden.  Angesichts der jüngsten Entwicklungen in Ungarn und Rumänien ist es plötzlich ernst mit einer Möglichkeit, die in Brüssel nie öffentlich thematisiert wurde.  Soll die EU nun als Hüterin der Demokratie agieren und die europäischen Völker sozusagen vor sich selber (oder zumindest vor ihren eigenen Regierungen) schützen?  Oder wird Brüssel dadurch zu einem pan-europäischen Polit-Polizisten, welcher Bürgern von Lappland bis Lampedusa das einzig wahre Demokratieverständnis vorschreibt?  Die Gefahr eines supranationalen Paternalismus sollte man erstnehmen ... continue reading

13. März 2013

Protecting Democracy and the Rule of Law inside the EU, or: Why Europe Needs a Copenhagen Commission

Could there be a dictatorship inside the European Union?  If such a spectre appeared, should Brussels somehow step in to shore up democracy?  Or would this constitute an illegitimate form of meddling in the domestic affairs of countries which, after all, have delegated only specific powers to Europe – and not empowered Brussels to lecture Europeans from Lapland to Lampedusa on how popular rule is correctly understood, let alone to be a policeman for liberal democracy across the European continent?  All these are no longer theoretical questions: recent developments in Romani and especially in Hungary have put such challenges squarely ... continue reading

13. März 2013