Suchergebnisse

At First Sight it Might Appear Somewhat Curious to be studying the efficacy of the liberal democratic state just at that historic moment when liberal democracy seems to have triumphed on a global scale. Yet within contemporary Europe, the nature of political community and sovereign power have been thrown into question by the resurgence of ethnic nationalism, the intensification of regional integration and global turbulence. Taken together, these forces appear to deliver a fundamental challenge to the democratic ideals which underpin liberal democratic states. This article seeks to evaluate the nature of this challenge. It invites specific consideration of the consequences of these 'threats from above' and 'threats from below' for the character of the modern state.

Globalization & regionalization influence the political, legal, economic, & military institutions of modern liberal democratic states & are producing both integration through the growth of communication & interconnectedness & fragmentation through the weakening of existing political relations. This global context challenges the meaning & suitability of democratic politics in three arenas: (1) scope & capacity of the state regulatory ability; (2) the representativeness & accountability of the state to its regional & ethnic communities & movements; & (3) the relationship between sovereignity, democracy, & the territorial political community. D. Generoli