David Tréfas

Europe on Trial

Shortcomings of the EU with regard to democracy, public sphere, and identity

The rejection of the referenda concerning the Constitutional Treaty of Europe in France and the Netherlands in 2005 showed that European integration is hampered by shortcomings in a common public sphere, democracy, and identity. The present volume explores these deficits. Newest results of empirical research show that the idea of European integration has spread within the elites but that it has not yet reached the masses.

David Tréfás, Dr., studied history, German literature, and political science at the universities of Basel, Freiburg i.Br., and Budapest. In his PhD thesis he analysed Swiss-Hungarian relations between 1945 and 1956. He was manager of a project concerning European identity and European public sphere at the “fög” – Research Centre for public sphere and society at the University of Zurich. Currently, he is a subject librarian at the university library in Basel.
Jens Lucht, Dr., studied law and political science at the University of Freiburg i.Br. and in his PhD thesis examined public media broadcasting in Germany and the UK. He was manager of a project concerning European identity and European public sphere at the “fög” – Research Centre for public sphere and society at the University of Zurich. Currently, he manages a project on “Democracy in the Media Society“ within the NCCR (National Competence Center for Research).

 

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