How European Union Membership Can Undermine the Rule of Law in Emerging Democracies
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 8041702 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Jonathan Slapin (0000-0002-6237-2868, University of Cambridge, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2015 |
| Volume | 38 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 627-648 |
| Publication date | 2015-01-13 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | West European Politics (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0140-2382 • E-ISSN: 1743-9655 |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/01402382.2014.996378 |
| OpenAlex | W2036598331 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 13 |
| References cited | 47 |
The European Union views the spread of economic prosperity and rule of law to countries emerging from dictatorship as among its primary goals when considering countries as candidates for membership. Existing literature often suggests that EU membership confers significant benefits on the accession countries, and these countries are willing to undergo costly and difficult reforms to reap these benefits. Through strict membership conditions, member states force accession countries to commit to democracy. Drawing on theoretical work in the fields of law, politics, and economics, this article reassesses the conventional wisdom. It argues that, under certain conditions, the reforms required of would-be members could have the perverse effect of undermining the establishment of legitimate law in transitional democracies. Using an agent-based model, the article elucidates a theory in which placing laws on the books around which no societal consensus exists can create perverse incentives for citizens and government officials and may lead to an erosion of the rule of law
Accession · Commit · Democracy · Dictatorship · Economic policy · Economics · European union · Government (linguistics · Incentive · Law and economics · Market economy · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Prosperity · Rule of law · European and International Law Studies · European Criminal Justice and Data Protection · European Union Policy and Governance · Law
Bulgaria and Romania, twin Cinderellas in the European Union
Rebuilding the Rule of Law in the Era of Democratic Backsliding
The Long Road to Europeanization
The Europeanization of the Countries in South-East Europe through Enhancement of the Rule of Law
Quantitative research approaches in support of the new EC’s framework to safeguard the rule of law in EU
Flexible democratic conditionality? The role of democracy and human rights adherence in Nato enlargement decisions
When democracy erodes at home, the EU loses clout abroad? The EU’s ability to promote democracy externally while backsliding internally
The Dynamics of Enlargement in International Organizations
Europeanization and the Rule of Law
The Race to EU Membership
Is there an East–West divide on democracy in the European Union? Evidence from democratic backsliding and attitudes towards rule of law interventions
Larger and more law abiding? The impact of enlargement on compliance in the European Union
Decoupling practical and legal compliance
Why Europe will run the 21st century
Crime, punishment, and deterrence
Democracy by Convergence
Europe Undivided
Designing Democracy
The EU's Transformative Power
Economic development, legality, and the transplant effect
The International Dimensions of Democratization
Why People Obey the Law
The Weakness of Civil Society in Post-Communist Europe
Democracy from Above
Problems of Democratic Transition and Consolidation
The Challenges of Accession
Great Expectations
The Old Lady Visits Your Backyard
A Constitution for Knaves Crowds out Civic Virtues
Why you don't always get what you want
The Elusive Spirit of the Law
Is Europeanisation through Conditionality Sustainable? Lock-in of Institutional Change after EU Accession
After conditionality
Compelling criteria? Human rights in the European Union
Governance by conditionality
Strategic Calculation and International Socialization
Bargaining Power at Europe's Intergovernmental Conferences
EU Democracy Promotion in the European Neighbourhood
Accession and Reform of the European Union
International Organization as a Seal of Approval
Law, Focal Points, and Fiscal Discipline in the United States and the European Union
European integration and national executives
Enlargement, Institution-Building and the EU's Administrative Capacity Requirement
Public Behavior and Political Change in Post-Soviet States
Comparing transposition in the 27 member states of the EU
Tempered by the EU? Political parties and party systems before and after accession
Europe Moves Eastward
Who Is Punished? Regional Intergovernmental Organizations and the Enforcement of Democratic Norms
Trading Human Rights
Democracy from the Outside-In? International Organizations and Democratization
Social Norms and Social Roles
The Standardization of Law and Its Effect on Developing Economies
| Unique citing works | 13 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1,18 |
| Citation span | 2015 - 2025 (11) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 13 |