Reconstituting Democracy in Europe (RECON) (completed)

The nation state has been the institutional mainstay of modern democracy. Today, this particular political form is challenged and may be transcended by something new. Can the state form as such be reconstituted in Europe, and if so, at what level? Are alternative forms more viable?

(Photo: European Commission)

About

Reconstituting Democracy in Europe (RECON) is a large-scale European research project which focuses on the conditions for democracy in the multilevel constellation that makes up the European Union. RECON is initiated and coordinated by ARENA. The project includes 21 partners in 13 European countries as well as New Zealand.

Objectives

RECON seeks to clarify whether democracy is possible under conditions of pluralism, diversity and complex multilevel governance. Three different models for reconstituting democracy in Europe are delineated and assessed with the overall aim of developing a theory of democratic deliberative supranationalism. Read more on RECON's research.

Findings

See RECON snapshot of selected findings from all RECON's research fields. Ongoing research from the project is published in the RECON Online Working Paper Series and the RECON Report Series. See also RECON’s Newsletter. 

Project summary

Executive summary – first period (2007) (pdf)

Executive summary – second period (2008) (pdf)

Executive summary – third period (2009) (pdf)

Background

RECON runs from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2011. The project involves more than 100 researchers from 21 universities and research institutions. They cover a wide range of academic fields, from political science (political theory, international relations, constitutional politics, European politics, gender studies), sociology (including specialist competence in media research), linguistics, anthropology, law and legal theory (constitutional law, human rights law, international and European economic law, transnational law, public law, tax law), to economics, with a particular emphasis on fiscal policy and European public policy.

Funding

RECON is an Integrated Project funded by the European Commission’s Sixth Framework Programme.

Cooperation

RECON partner institutions:
Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic – Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna – Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest – European University Institute, Florence – Freie Universität, Berlin – Jagiellonian University, Krakow – Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt – London School of Economics and Political Science – Peace Research Institute, Frankfurt – Queen’s University, Belfast – Riga Graduate School of Law – Sabanci University, Istanbul – Spanish National Research Council, Madrid – Université libre de Bruxelles – University of Auckland – University of Bremen – University of León – University of Reading – Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam – University of Hamburg –  University of Mannheim (affiliated partner)

Published Oct. 1, 2010 3:01 PM - Last modified Mar. 16, 2023 12:00 AM

Contact

Scientific Coordinator
Erik O. Eriksen

ARENA Centre for European Studies
University of Oslo

RECON-logo

Participants

  • Erik Oddvar Eriksen Universitetet i Oslo
  • John Erik Fossum Universitetet i Oslo
  • Christopher Lord Universitetet i Oslo
  • Helene Sjursen Universitetet i Oslo
  • Hans-Jørg Trenz Universitetet i Oslo
  • Cathrine Holst Universitetet i Oslo
  • Daniel Gaus Universitetet i Oslo
  • Asimina Michailidou Universitetet i Oslo
  • Espen Daniel Hagen Olsen Universitetet i Oslo
  • Marianne Riddervold Universitetet i Oslo
  • Guri Rosen Universitetet i Oslo
  • Pieter de Wilde Universitetet i Oslo
  • Agustin Jose Menendez Universitetet i Oslo
  • Marit Eldholm Universitetet i Oslo
  • Geir Ove Kværk
Detailed list of participants