Varieties of Democracy

1. VarietiesofDemocracy in the New MemberStatesPaul BlokkerUniversityofSussex/Universityof Trento

2. Outline 1. MainAssumptions and outline project2. DemocratizionTheory and Political culture: a Critique3. Normative PoliticalTheory and Political Culture: A Critique4. A Multiple Democracies-Approach: EthicsofDemocracy5. Constitutions and Political Culture in Three New MemberStates6. Elite discourses on (European) Democracy Varieties of Democracy

3. 1. MainAssumptions and outline project ■ Democratization of New MemberStatesunderstoodas a formof ‘assimilation’ bynewcomerstoEuropeanstructures (institutions/political culture) ■ It can be argued that EU Enlargement has indeed involved a form of formal/institutional convergence■ At the same time, a form of politico-cultural Differentiation is part of the Europeanization process Varieties of Democracy

4. 1. MainAssumptions and outline project ■ The Theoretical approach starts from a rereading and dual critique of both democratization studies and normative political theory■ An alternative approach is proposed: a ‘Multiple Democracies’ approach ■ Democratic political cultures are grounded in/place dissimilar emphasis on distinct orientations or democratic ethics (rule of law, identity, participation)■ application approach in empirical-comparative analysis of political cultures in Hungary, Poland, and Romania Varieties of Democracy

5. 2. DemocratizionTheory and Political culture: a Critique ■ Critiqueofdemocratizationstudies i. reproductionofliberal democracy ii. Emphasis on ‘constitutional dimension’ iii. No sensibilityforinnovation /contestation Varieties of Democracy

6. 3. Normative PoliticalTheory and Political Culture: A Critique ■Critiqueof Normative PoliticalTheoryi. Universalisticapproaches: assumptionofsingular, liberal attachment to the polityii. Cultural/Hermeneuticapproaches: assumptionofnationalpolitical culture■ Alternative understanding building on idea ofpluralityofdiscourses on/justificationsofdemocracy, butnottiedtospecific social goods or institutionalsettings, and notexcluded on basisof standard ofrationality■ Democracyis regime in which ‘any idea can beraised’ (Castoriadis) Varieties of Democracy

7. 4. A Multiple Democracies-Approach: EthicsofDemocracy ■ Fourmainethics/orientationsidentified:1. EthicofRights2. EthicofIdentity3. EthicofParticipation4. EthicofDistribitiveJustice■ Possibleotherethics:Ethicofdeliberation; Ethicofdissent Varieties of Democracy

8. 5. Constitutions and Political Culture in Three New MemberStates - Hungary:- ‘legalrevolution’/’supranational constitutionalism - Strong emphasis on legalcontinuity, constitutionalism - late 1990s: Counterconstitution, visibilityof ‘ethicofidentity’- Poland:- Dualunderstandingofdemocraticpolity: both ‘ethicofrights’ and ‘ethicofidentity’ - Notnecessarily stand-off, compromise visible- Romania: - constitutionalnationalism/communitarianconstitutionalism - increasingvisibility ‘ethicofrights’ Varieties of Democracy

9. 5. Constitutions and Political Culture in Three New MemberStates ■ Hungary: “Remember, that it was the MSZMP itself which started to dismantle the single party state, and saw its main goal as creating a state based on the rule of law in its place. We are convinced that creating modern institutions, even by European comparison, will both enhance political stability, enable peaceful transition and lead to a new national compromise” (ReszőNyers, in: Bozoki 2002: 336). Varieties of Democracy

10. 5. Constitutions and Political Culture in Three New MemberStates ■ Poland: Both those who believe in God as the source of truth, justice, good and beauty, As well as those not sharing such faith but respecting those universal values as arising from other sources… for our culture rooted in the Christian heritage of the Nation and in universal human values… Recognizing our responsibility before God or our own consciences… (Preamble Polish Constitution 1997). Varieties of Democracy

11. 5. Constitutions and Political Culture in Three New MemberStates ■ Romania: “As a dimension of a psychological nature of the state, the nation is not exclusively an ethnic or biological phenomenon, [rather] it synthesises and articulates the historical past, traditions, model of life, a community of language and culture, genetic relations of generations and the unity of the latter their ideals in forming and affirming the Romanian national state. The national sentiment therefore constitutes the strongest ferment to the state’s cohesion and its continuity “(GenezaConstitutiei1998: 63). Varieties of Democracy

12. 6. Elite discourses on (European) Democracy ■ Hungary: dualistic political culture“Basically, it has … become pretty close to two political societies, and not just political societies in Hungary, which have a very different view of the world. Which, you know… one does believe in nationhood. It is real, it is a real phenomenon. The other says no, there is no such thing…. If you say you are Hungarian you are a chauvinist and an anti-semite and so on. It is a little bit absurd…”(Interview GyorgySchoepflin, MEP, June 2008) Varieties of Democracy

13. 6. Elite discourses on (European) Democracy ■ Poland:“in contemporary times, the rule of law, and the state of law and democracy, they are complementary notions”“[The] Catholic church supported opposition generally… This is the reason that generally in Poland for instance the left-side party, the social-democrats, who are generally against the church impact [on] the politician, they do not question the position of the church in the constitution… This is a kind of consensus… that Catholic religion has a special status in Poland…”“…The Polish Church is not [only] religion, it is a very long tradition. It is a cultural tradition, not a religion…” Varieties of Democracy

14. 6. Elite discourses on (European) Democracy ■ Romania:“Thus, we believe that the national character of the state has been exceeded by history, it has become anachronistic. It is known that we criticized the syntagm of “national state” also in 1991, remaining consistent in this opinion, as it is a political category that has fulfilled its historical role, and has become dissonant with a modern Constitution, and we can specify that nothing similar appears in European fundamental laws, in the states of Europe”(Dezbateriparlamentare, 18 June 2003) Varieties of Democracy

15. 6. Elite discourses on (European) Democracy ■ Hungary: Hungarian views of Europe“We are interested in a Union based on nations, themselves based on regions and local communities. We are not in favour of the United States of Europe. We want to maintain cultural and national diversities”“There is presently a striking contradiction between the practice of the EU enforcing the protection of minority rights in the accession candidate countries by the Copenhagen criteria, the Europe Agreements and the recommendations made in the framework of the Accession Partnership on one hand and the lack of legal basis in this field for the adoption of the same kind of measures in the Community on the other hand “ Varieties of Democracy

16. 6. Elite discourses on (European) Democracy ■ Poland:Polish views of EuropePoland has a “different historical experience”, as it lost its “independence many times”, and while “there was no possibility to express one’s national identity during communism”, the current partaking in EU integration means that Poland, again, lost part of its independence.”“Yes, [it is in our constitution, our thinking] … we have this preservation… of defending our culture, because of our history. Those who don’t understand, like the Brits, they do not need to, but we have to”. Varieties of Democracy

17. 6. Elite discourses on (European) Democracy ■ Romania: RomanianViewsofEurope“We speak of nations within the European Union, but our cultural identity is something completely different. This is a creative process, a permanent process, a process in which every generation adds something to an edifice which in its permanent nature represents the Romanian people, represents its ideals, represents its national spirit“ (DezbateriParlamentare, 2004) Varieties of Democracy