Project description
Investigating elections' legitimacy
Voter turnout rates have dropped in European, national and regional elections. They are keen to avoid participation and several groups of society such as young people, the poor and the long-term unemployed despise the election process. In addition, extreme parties that question many fundamental values of our democracies are on the rise. This puts in question the very legitimacy of the elections and raises serious concern about the future of democracy in European societies. The EU-funded REDEM project intends to study the reasons that make European citizens unwilling to participate in the elections as well as investigate the long-term ability of elections to legitimise governance and policies.
Objective
Elections are supposed to legitimise governments. However, it is elections themselves whose legitimacy seems
to be in question. Voters are increasingly unwilling to vote, even at national elections and, when they do, are
attracted to parties whose stated platforms and appeal seem flatly at odds with democratic norms of freedom and
equality. These developments raise a question-mark over the long-term capacity of elections to legitimize political
institutions and policies in Europe, and that question-mark is what motivates REDEM.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
- H2020-EU.3.6. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Europe In A Changing World - Inclusive, Innovative And Reflective Societies Main Programme
- H2020-EU.3.6.1.2. - Trusted organisations, practices, services and policies that are necessary to build resilient, inclusive, participatory, open and creative societies in Europe, in particular taking into account migration, integration and demographic change
Call for proposal
H2020-SC6-GOVERNANCE-2018-2019-2020
See other projects for this callSub call
H2020-SC6-GOVERNANCE-2019
Funding Scheme
CSA - Coordination and support actionCoordinator
75341 Paris
France