How to optimally balance effectiveness &

legitimacy?by Ferran Davesafdavesa@vub.ac.be

PhD researcher - Political ScienceInstitute for European Studies (IES)

121/11/14

Effectiveness The capacity to achieve specific goals

Are policy-making processes effective?

Are institutions effective?

Are policies effective?

Effectiveness Decision-making

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Legitimacy ?

Are policy-making processes legitimate?

Are institutions legitimate?

Are policies legitimate?

Legitimacy Decision-making

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Legitimacy

The capacity of a political system to engender and maintain the belief that existing political institutions are the most appropriate or proper ones for the society

Seymour Lipset, 1959, “social requisites of democracy”

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Entangles in the ability of governments to resolve political problems –being primarily a function of economic development-

Effectiveness

Seymour Lipset, 1959, “social requisites of democracy”

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Beliefs Development(trust, perception) (results, facts)

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•In an ideal world

•In a world where ALL political decisions are ‘pareto’ efficient = where everybody wins

Perfect balance between legitimacy and effectiveness

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These cases are the exceptions to the rule

Limited resources

Not equally distributed

Sources of conflict

The rule:

Ferran Davesa, IES

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How to act then?

1) Maximize benefits- minimize costs (more gains than costs)

2) Democratically

According to the majority; according to the will of the majority; according to the will of the citizens expressed freely and in equal conditions

Ferran Davesa, IES

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How to act then?

1) Maximize benefits- minimize costs (more gains than costs)

2) Responsive government/governance

Fundamental dichotomy of political systems

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Fundamental dichotomy of political systems

Responsiveness vs. Rational Choice

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Applicable to the EU?

•Until Maastricht: Effectiveness = Legitimacy

•Only ‘pareto’ efficient policies where we all agree/gain

•Responsiveness was not on the table, policies were legitimated by results: “permissive consensus”

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After Maastricht, the EU starts dealing with conflict:

Redistributive politics = winners and losers

How can the EU justify this?

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Responsiveness vs. Rational Choice

Democracy vs. Economy

The legitimacy trilemma of the EU

The Commission (utilitarian) - The Council (national interests) - The Parliament (ideological

positions)

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Questions for Debate

• Is democracy possible at the EU level?

•Who represents the European constituencies?

•Are people willing to equally accept the rational choice either if they are on the winning side than on the losing side?

•Do these debates apply to your own research?

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