In Pursuit of Democratic Legitimacy? Niklas Luhmann and the European Parliament Elections of 2014

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• 1) The European Parliament an Institutional History
• 2) EU Governance and the Spitzenkandidaten
• 3) Legitimacy in the EU
• 4) Niklas Luhmann on Legitimacy
  • Systems
  • Legitimacy
  • Elections
  • Themes
• 5) Spitzenkandidaten Documents: A Thematic Analysis
  • Thematic Analysis I: European Parliament
  • Thematic Analysis II: European Commission
  • Thematic Analysis III: European Political Parties
  • Thematic Analysis: Concluding Remarks
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This dissertation aims to analyze the European Parliament elections of 2014 through the lens of Niklas Luhmann's theory of legitimacy. It examines the development of the European Parliament and argues that the search for political legitimacy at the European level was the driving force behind this development, including the introduction of Spitzenkandidaten. The thesis explores the applicability of Luhmann's work on legitimacy in the context of European democracy by analyzing documents related to the Spitzenkandidaten idea.

• The evolution of the European Parliament and its role in EU governance
• The concept of legitimacy in the European Union
• Niklas Luhmann's theory of legitimacy and its applicability to the EU
• The Spitzenkandidaten process and its impact on democratic legitimacy
• The relationship between citizens, the European Parliament, and the European Commission

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Introduction: This chapter sets the context for the thesis, highlighting the concept of legitimacy in political authority and the European Union's democratic deficit. It introduces the Spitzenkandidaten process as a significant innovation in the 2014 European Parliament elections, aiming to strengthen the Parliament's role and address the perceived lack of legitimacy.
• 1) The European Parliament an Institutional History: This chapter provides a historical overview of the development of the European Parliament, tracing its evolution from a consultative body to a more powerful institution. It examines the driving forces behind this transformation, particularly the search for legitimacy at the European level.
• 2) EU Governance and the Spitzenkandidaten: This chapter analyzes the evolution of EU governance and the increasing powers of the European Parliament. It explores the background and rationale behind the introduction of Spitzenkandidaten in the 2014 elections, highlighting its potential to enhance the link between citizens and the Commission Presidency.
• 3) Legitimacy in the EU: This chapter discusses the concept of legitimacy in the context of the European Union, exploring different perspectives and theories on how to achieve legitimacy. It presents the limitations of established theories, which focus on input and output, and introduces Niklas Luhmann's Legitimation durch Verfahren as an alternative approach.
• 4) Niklas Luhmann on Legitimacy: This chapter delves into Niklas Luhmann's theory of legitimacy, focusing on his concepts of systems, legitimacy, elections, and key themes. It emphasizes Luhmann's holistic approach that incorporates both input and output, examining the connections between different elements in a political system that contribute to legitimacy.
• 5) Spitzenkandidaten Documents: A Thematic Analysis: This chapter presents a thematic analysis of documents related to the Spitzenkandidaten process, including those from the European Parliament, Commission, and major political parties. The analysis examines the arguments and perspectives of different stakeholders, exploring how the process contributes to or undermines the legitimacy of the European Union.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

Key terms and concepts explored in this dissertation include European Parliament, legitimacy, democratic deficit, Spitzenkandidaten, Niklas Luhmann, Legitimation durch Verfahren, EU governance, European integration, political authority, and citizen participation. These terms highlight the core themes of the work, focusing on the relationship between political institutions, democratic processes, and the legitimacy of the European Union.