"The European Citizens' Initiative (ECI), - Hailed as the first transnational instrument of participatory democracy in world history,
it allows members of the public to call for new European laws on issues
of their choice, provided they have a million supporting signatures
from at least seven member states. But despite its stated aim of bringing the EU closer to its citizens"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/09/eu-citizens-initiative
BUT
- while there is obviously a risk that a body such as the EU ends up
being ruled by a kind of 'elite' of bureaucrats, I am also slightly
sceptical about referendum/petition based politics. On the one hand they
do provide help raise ignored issues, and give a voice to a perhaps too
often paternalistically ignored public, but on the other they are very
prone to populism, and the 'tyranny of the majority'. The problem is,
apart from those affecting disenfranchised minorities (which by
definition cannot result in such tyranny), often the topics which get
people most exercised about, are those which are aimed at the behaviour
of others (moral issues, social friction issues), and this is what is
most dangerous about populism. And of course there is the risk of
manipulation by well funded special interests. So overall while the EU
needs more public involvement, I am wary of such initiatives unless
properly balanced and controlled.
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