Political Legitimacy in Globalized World

A Case of European Integration

Abstract

The end of Cold War and the globalization have changed the assumption of International Relations. This paper focuses on the issue of legitimacy which was solely provided by sovereign state, but decline of autonomy of state and emergence of non-state actors make us reconsider the meaning of legitimacy in the globalized world. It particularly pays attention to the question of legitimacy at European Union (EU) as an experiment of post-sovereign legitimacy.
After the failures of ratifying Constitutional Treaty, the legitimacy of EU is put in question. Its “output oriented”, vision-led, and national democratic legitimacy are undermined by the lack of positive output by EU, grand vision, transparency and European identity made people consider the decisions at EU level are not legitimate.
Thus, this paper argues that it is necessary to strengthen the legitimacy of EU through deliberation. In this way, people will participate in defining the course of European Integration and their fate. This should not be done by Europe-wide bureaucratic process, but from national-level where people find their identity. This discussion of legitimacy of EU would, perhaps, be able to apply for developing legitimacy of global governance.