Opportunity structures for citizens’ participation: The case of the European Union

Abstract

Hitherto, the political rights of European citizens with respect to the European system have been limited to the right to vote and to stand for European elections (Articles B, TEU and 8ff., ECT). But recently, a growing number of authors have discussed the pros and cons of elements of direct democracy though with very different approaches (see e.g. Abromeit, this volume, Allais 199 1, Bogdanor and Woodcock 1991, Bohnet and Frey 1994, Buchmann 1993, Christiansen 1995, Esposito 1997, Grande 1996, Murswiek 1993, Neunreither 1995, Opp 1994, Schneider 1994, Svensson 1994, Wallace 1993, Weiler et al. 1996, Zampini 1996, Ziirn 1996).