Project description
EU supranational policy instruments to tackle emerging dissensus
The EU supports democracy and the rule of law in response to emerging dissensus surrounding liberal democracies. Contributing to strengthening democratic institutions in the EU, the EU-funded RED-SPINEL project will analyse the changing nature of dissensus and its implications for EU supranational policy instruments. The project will focus on the EU’s key policy instruments and legal mechanisms through theoretical innovation and original empirical analyses by shedding light on the nature of mounting dissensus. It will investigate how contemporary dissensus affects future democratic practices and the rule of law. RED-SPINEL will deliver a typology of dissensus, map its principal actors, analyse internal contestation about liberal democracy and external competition from illiberal models, and develop policy recommendations and capacity-building tools.
Objective
RED-SPINEL stands for 'Respond to Emerging Dissensus: SuPranational Instruments and Norms of European democracy'. It is an interdisciplinary and intersectoral Research and Innovation Action bringing together 11 partner organisations from 8 European countries. It will jointly analyse the changing nature of dissensus surrounding liberal democracy and its implications for EU supranational policy instruments.
RED-SPINEL will unpack the inter-connected drivers of contemporary dissensus surrounding liberal democracy. Its findings will be rooted in theoretical innovation and original empirical analyses. Its concept-building effort centered on the notion of 'dissensus' will explore how contemporary dissensus surrounding liberal democracy differs from previous debates and which more fundamental questions it raises about future democratic practices and the rule of law. Ultimately, RED-SPINEL will provide a typology of said dissensus, map the principal actors of the dissensus in Europe and unpack its two underlying drivers - i.e. heightened internal contestation over liberal democracy and external competition from alternative illiberal models.
Empirically, RED-SPINEL will focus on the key policy instruments and legal mechanisms shaping the EU's efforts in support of democracy and the rule of law. The studied instruments include the EU rule of law toolbox, the neighborhood and accession instruments, the European semester, fundamental rights and judicial instruments, as well as citizen participation platforms.
Furthermore, through a series of stakeholder events, RED-SPINEL will flesh out the implications of its findings for public policy stakeholders (i.e. legal professionals, policymakers, European youth) as well as EU instruments aimed at responding to said dissensus. The project will develop a range of scientifically informed policy recommendations and capacity-building efforts able to foster innovative democratic practices able to respond to the present-day dissensus.
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Funding Scheme
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinator
1050 Bruxelles / Brussel
Belgium