Democracy is not merely a political and legal system it depends on social and economic
commitments as well. Democracy is not only realized through elections it requires civic
participation through permanent dialogue. This volume addresses this central yet often
overlooked issue in a series of essays by renowned scholars from Europe and the United States
reviving a concept that dates back to the foundation of the European Union: social dialogue as
a fundamental part of the construction of the union. Having neglected the social dimensions of
its institutions the European Union is currently in deep crisis. European democracy is
confronted with a radical new situation and new definitions of work and family as well as of
growth and economic achievement must be embedded in European public policy. The contributors
to this book identify social and civil dialogue as key institutional processes that will help
overcome the current crisis. Civic participation can no longer be limited to representative
institutions as we know them a new combination of deliberation bargaining and social
experimentation is required. This book maps out the complexity of this vital issue and its
implications for the future of the European democratic project.
