A structural problem

Are we just blowing up the bubble a little bit?

Elections force communication

No EU institution is close to the basic definition of a party system from Schumpeter, composed of 4 main elements of the role of political parties:Parties present programmesVoters make an informed choice between competing partiesThe successful party puts its programme into practiceThe governing party judged on its successes at the next election

Adapted from Schumpeter, J.A. [1943] (1976), Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy, 5th Edition, London, Allen & Unwin, quoted in Judge, D. & Earnshaw, D.,The European Parliament

The Institutions

Commission Political futures do not depend on communication –

indeed quite the contrary?

Parliament Second order national elections, often closed lists

Council / Member States If the EU is a success, incentive to present that as a

national success

The decline of the traditional political party?

Hierarchical Networked

Hierarchical

http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2013/05/06/decline-in-party-membership-europe-ingrid-van-biezen/

Networked

Networkedparty

Hierarchicalmainstream media

Flatter hierarchy

Flatterhierarchy

Hierarchicalmainstream media

Citizens self-organise: applying pressure

Hybrid

Credible Commitment:no gimmicks please!

Brussels vs.the Member States

follow 130

A structural problem

The decline of traditional parties

Citizens self organise

No gimmicks please

Brussels vs. Member States

Recap

Creative Commons ImagesEthernet Cables http://www.flickr.com/photos/skreuzer/508996746/ Facebook Like http://www.flickr.com/photos/sofiabudapest/5925462073/ Malmström http://www.flickr.com/photos/european_parliament/4287119537/ Passport http://www.flickr.com/photos/nedrichards/285602156/ Facebook Like http://www.flickr.com/photos/sofiabudapest/5925462073/ TGV http://www.flickr.com/photos/34147934@N07/4866055584/ Twitter http://www.flickr.com/photos/joshsemans/3414271359 Barroso http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisboncouncil/8639784277/ Crossing Line http://www.flickr.com/photos/77879116@N00/ Occupy http://www.flickr.com/photos/39841756@N00/7990273026/ Piraten http://www.flickr.com/photos/notizn/4528673061/ Magyar Garda http://www.flickr.com/photos/39142150@N04/5589653339/ Grillo http://www.flickr.com/photos/ncaranti/8404373429/ Farage http://www.flickr.com/photos/36612355@N08/6841578933/ Bee http://www.flickr.com/photos/iamtreesha/7894625598/ Tap http://www.flickr.com/photos/54799099@N00/4816226411/ Power Station http://www.flickr.com/photos/freefoto/3844250043/ Greek Poverty http://www.flickr.com/photos/v1ctor/4743268722/ Fishing Boats http://www.flickr.com/photos/jameslogan/54225977/ Toy Guns http://www.flickr.com/photos/animakitty/529441391/ Tahrir Square http://www.flickr.com/photos/elhamalawy/6401023697/ Riot Policeman http://www.flickr.com/photos/hozinja/5248122650/ ACTA Protest http://www.flickr.com/photos/22563827@N08/6856717231/ Jean Luc Melenchon Posters http://www.flickr.com/photos/49687338@N04/7234207750/ Habermas http://www.flickr.com/photos/37925259@N00/5718599089/ Vienna Café http://www.flickr.com/photos/su-may/7103794911/ Bubble http://www.flickr.com/photos/stansich/134366701/ Shirky http://www.flickr.com/photos/poptech2006/2969510044/ Spliff http://www.flickr.com/photos/adamcohn/2787196217/ Belgian Security http://www.flickr.com/photos/skender/1361525212/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skender/1361555878/http://www.flickr.com/photos/skender/1361450404/

People at laptops http://www.flickr.com/photos/daquellamanera/3347405355/ Silvio Berlusconi http://www.flickr.com/photos/elenatorre/3675597102/ Labour stall http://www.flickr.com/photos/skuds/137099141/ Indignados http://www.flickr.com/photos/hyde_/5854588048/