Damkjær, Rune

Dyrholm, Pernille

Hansen, Amalie Helmbo

Hansen, Frederik Rune

Hansen, Sofie Withøft

Nielsen, Sara Rytter

The main focus of this project is scepticism towards the EU among Danish electors based on the release of sovereignty. Since Denmark became a member of the EU, the cooperation has become a lot more comprehensive. The EU has gained more power and thereby has a greater influence on Danish politics when implementing laws. The Danish constitution maintains a certain procedure when it comes to releasing sovereignty to for instance the EU. These politics and the electors' scepticism towards the EU are the issues of this project. We will clarify what kind of scepticism is most common among the Danish electors as well as elaborating on how the Danish view on the EU is different to that of its other member countries. Denmark has for instance been granted four exceptions to the Maastricht treaty. Anthony Gidden's theory about the disembedding of power can be used to explain the scepticism among Danish electors as it states that the physical distance between the EU and Danish electors will make it hard for the electors to relate to certain issues. As the EU is rather new compared to the Danish government, the Danish electors' questioning of the EU may also be justified using Max Weber’s theory about legitimate power. This theory suggests that power can be perceived as legitimate by traditional usage. To portray the structure of power between the EU, the Danish government and the Danish electors, a model showing power in six dimensions is included in the analysis. Our focuses are direct, indirect, deliberate and institutional measures of power. There are several ways to use power in this structure, which makes it very complex. In this analysis we clarify that the Danish conservative party (Konservative) is under pressure from both the EU as well as the Danish electors and their scepticism regarding the EU. To see how Konservative tackles this pressure we use a theory about party strategies to shed light on why they have changed their politics on EU. In this analysis the main issue is the party’s motivation to get more electors - as they have less than ever - as well as staying true to their statement of beliefs as scepticism towards the EU can be classified as a classic conservative opinion. It is problematic for the party that there are a lot of different opinions about the EU politics internally among the party members as electors may be confused about the stand and political strategies of the party. Through our analysis we have come to the conclusion that it is likely that Konservative’s more sceptical EU politics are a result of the structure of power between the EU, the Danish government and scepticism towards the EU based on sovereignty among the Danish electors.The main focus of this project is scepticism towards the EU among Danish electors based on the release of sovereignty. Since Denmark became a member of the EU, the cooperation has become a lot more comprehensive. The EU has gained more power and thereby has a greater influence on Danish politics when implementing laws. The Danish constitution maintains a certain procedure when it comes to releasing sovereignty to for instance the EU. These politics and the electors' scepticism towards the EU are the issues of this project. We will clarify what kind of scepticism is most common among the Danish electors as well as elaborating on how the Danish view on the EU is different to that of its other member countries. Denmark has for instance been granted four exceptions to the Maastricht treaty. Anthony Gidden's theory about the disembedding of power can be used to explain the scepticism among Danish electors as it states that the physical distance between the EU and Danish electors will make it hard for the electors to relate to certain issues. As the EU is rather new compared to the Danish government, the Danish electors' questioning of the EU may also be justified using Max Weber’s theory about legitimate power. This theory suggests that power can be perceived as legitimate by traditional usage. To portray the structure of power between the EU, the Danish government and the Danish electors, a model showing power in six dimensions is included in the analysis. Our focuses are direct, indirect, deliberate and institutional measures of power. There are several ways to use power in this structure, which makes it very complex. In this analysis we clarify that the Danish conservative party (Konservative) is under pressure from both the EU as well as the Danish electors and their scepticism regarding the EU. To see how Konservative tackles this pressure we use a theory about party strategies to shed light on why they have changed their politics on EU. In this analysis the main issue is the party’s motivation to get more electors - as they have less than ever - as well as staying true to their statement of beliefs as scepticism towards the EU can be classified as a classic conservative opinion. It is problematic for the party that there are a lot of different opinions about the EU politics internally among the party members as electors may be confused about the stand and political strategies of the party. Through our analysis we have come to the conclusion that it is likely that Konservative’s more sceptical EU politics are a result of the structure of power between the EU, the Danish government and scepticism towards the EU based on sovereignty among the Danish electors

Suverænitetsbaseret skepsis mod EU: - Skepticism towards the European Nation due to the loss of sovereignty

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Roskilde Universitet