RED-SPINEL

RED-SPINEL stands for 'Respond to Emerging Dissensus: SuPranational Instruments and Norms of European democracy'. It is an interdisciplinary and intersectoral Research and Innovation Action bringing together 11 partner organisations from 8 European countries. It will jointly analyse the changing nature of dissensus surrounding liberal democracy and its implications for EU supranational policy instruments.

The research group at ACELG will focus on the question of how fundamental rights within the EU can be protected through expert knowledge, citizen participation and/or judicial instruments.

The project began 1 September 2022 and is funded for 3 years. Professor Christina Eckes is the project leader, along with colleagues Dr Kati Cseres, Dr Sabine Mair and PhD researcher Irthe de Jong.

Background

RED-SPINEL will unpack the inter-connected drivers of contemporary dissensus surrounding liberal democracy. Its findings will be rooted in theoretical innovation and original empirical analyses. Its concept-building effort centered on the notion of 'dissensus' will explore how contemporary dissensus surrounding liberal democracy differs from previous debates and which more fundamental questions it raises about future democratic practices and the rule of law. Ultimately, RED-SPINEL will provide a typology of said dissensus, map the principal actors of the dissensus in Europe and unpack its two underlying drivers - i.e., heightened internal contestation over liberal democracy and external competition from alternative illiberal models.

Empirically, RED-SPINEL will focus on the key policy instruments and legal mechanisms shaping the EU's efforts in support of democracy and the rule of law. The studied instruments include the EU rule of law toolbox, the neighborhood and accession instruments, the European semester, fundamental rights and judicial instruments, as well as citizen participation platforms.

The project will develop a range of scientifically informed policy recommendations and capacity-building efforts able to foster innovative democratic practices able to respond to the present-day dissensus.

RED-SPINEL

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