Recognition, citizenship and public polices for homosexual unions in Europe

Abstract

The paper focuses on public policy making for homosexual unions in Europe. It addresses these policies from the perspective of recognition, a concept drawn on the literature on civil rights and minorities. As a criterion for evaluation, the test of recognition demands the satisfaction of a twofold condition: firstly, democracies must be prepared to accept even the most costly of the demands as presented by the representatives of sexual minorities (in this case the right of joint adoption); secondly, public policies must show respect to the prevailing model of citizenship, not imposing visions of difference when difference-based claims are treated with disregard in the political community, and, conversely, not pursing assimilation and homogeneity where the prevailing tradition points at policies based on the recognition of difference and diversity. Ultimately, this article seeks the development of a new interest on this subject among political scientists and sociologists. The paper draws on the analysis of law-making in Europe since 1989.