The challenge for democracy

The text of an interview with Ralf Dahrendorf, a German-born sociologist, a member of GB's House of Lords, & a former commissioner of the European Community. Conducted by Italian journalist Antonio Polito, the interview was excerpted from chapter four of Dopo la Democrazia ([After Democracy] 2001). Dahrendorf considers the comparison of the European Union (EU) to the US as inaccurate, since the historical union of the 13 American colonies was built on far more commonalities than found in the union of potentially 25 countries with long & separate histories. The EU has been created, in part, to strengthen democracy, but, ironically, its formation has not been democratic. Recent changes to EU institutions have not helped the process of democracy, & the present situation with laws made in secret, in closed sessions of the Council of Ministers, is very undemocratic. Dahrendorf suggests that to improve democracy, the EU set rigorous limits on terms of office for Commissioners & for other European appointments; strengthen the system of checks & balances & of judicial review; accurately audit accounts; & allow parliamentary participation in holding those in power responsible. Generally, to strengthen the principle of democracy in international bodies, many of which are very technical, independent technical bodies should be established. L. A. Hoffman