Whose Sovereignty?: Democracy and the People in the European Union (Understanding Europe: The Council for European Studies book series)

Spector, Céline (Author)

ISBN 10: 1788218922 / ISBN 13: 9781788218924

Published by Agenda Publishing, 2026

About this Item

240 pages. 9.20x6.15x9.21 inches. In Stock.

Seller Inventory # __1788218922

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Whose Sovereignty?: Democracy and the People in the European Union (Understanding Europe: The Council for European Studies book series)
• Publisher: Agenda Publishing
• Publication Date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1788218922
• ISBN 13: 9781788218924
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Brand New
• Weight: 1.74 kilograms

About this title

Synopsis

In this carefully argued case for a federal Europe, Céline Spector proposes that national sovereignty has become increasingly untenable as mechanisms perpetuating fiscal, social and environmental inequities transcend borders. Indeed, in the face of Russian aggression and America’s apparent retreat from its protective role, strengthening European integration has become essential and federalization appears increasingly necessary.


Although the concept of the sovereign people has become symbolic within nation-states, Spector show that it has become devoid of substantive political force. Rather than lamenting the decline of direct democracy, she advocates for a democratized European Union that could redefine popular sovereignty and protect human rights. The transformation of state sovereignty need not signal democracy’s end or the subordination of politics to law. Instead, it could facilitate new forms of political community at the European level and enable a reconceptualization of popular sovereignty beyond the nation-state.

About the Author

Céline Spector is a professor in the Department of Philosophy at Université Paris-Sorbonne.