THE ROLE OF EUROSCEPTICISM IN POST-NATIONAL EUROPEAN INTEGRATION: CASE STUDY OF THE EUROPE OF FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY GROUP
POST-MİLLİYETÇİ AVRUPA BÜTÜNLEŞMESİ İÇİNDE AVRO-KUŞKUCULUĞUN ROLÜ: AVRUPA ÖZGÜRLÜK VE DEMOKRASİ GRUBU VAKA ANALİZİ

Author : Sertan AKBABA
Number of pages : 499-515

Abstract

The article focuses on the concept ‘Euroscepticism’, as a part of an evolving post-national dimension, alongside the European integration. As argued in this article, the death of the permissive consensus has directly opened up the domestic political spaces to a European-wide political contestation. However, Euroscepticism is not handled contrary to Euro-enthusiasm in this article solely, but both are evaluated as the two sides of the same coin feeding the political contestation in Europe. That is why Euroscepticism is not segregated from pro-Europeanism, but rather separated by the concerns shared or not shared with that of Euro-enthusiasm. The article emphasizes this antagonism as constructive and positive and for testing this hypothesis the article concentrates on the Europe of Freedom and Democracy group. As outlined in the case study, the Eurosceptic Europe of Freedom and Democracy group is not into an absolute denial of the EU, but approaching critically the EU governance structures (regime) as a result becoming an important part within this equation for fulfilling the democratic requirements in a way of– inclusiveness, participation and responsiveness- all urgently required for future European scenarios. The Europe of Freedom and Democracy group is acknowledged as a movement in opposition, resisting and/or pressuring the developments at different levels and scope, which exceeds the traditional national understanding, as well as becoming an important part of the post-national political contestation.

Keywords

Euroscepticism, European Public Space, Post-nationalism, Political Contestation, Europe of Freedom a

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