This book analyses the context and activities of the Council of Europe's work to enhance democratic institutions, in particular through its adopted texts, thus providing a stocktake of the Council's contribution to the multi-stage process of making democratic institutions work at the different levels in member states.
Foreword
Chapter 1: Defining democracy in Europe
Introduction
Classifying the acquis
Chapter 2: Problems, challenges and opportunities
Democratic problems
Democratic challenges
Democratic opportunities
Conclusions
Chapter 3: The core principles of European democracy
Parliamentary democracy
Representation
Transparency, responsiveness and accountability
Sub-national democracy and subsidiarity
Participation and civic society
Conclusions
Chapter 4: Making democratic institutions work
How do democratic institutions do their work
Challenges in making democratic institutions work
Principles for good institutional design
Conclusions
Chapter 5: Tensions in developing European democracy
Convergence or divergence
Stability or change
Conclusions