Liberal democracy: absolutist eu rule of law conditionality or pluralistic bargaining chip?

Abstract

EU membership accentuates values. The current emphasis is a case of EU idealism, of stricter conditionality in response to political ideology and governance. Democracy is tantamount to liberal democracy, but at the same time pluralism is an integral part of the conditionality. This raises the question about the countryspecific maneuvering scope or – if EU candidate countries and Member States (are seen to) deviate from a non-negotiable ideal – inappropriate manipulation. While the authors do not address absolutism per se, they proceed on the premise that the “European perspective” disallows any value dilution, thereby maximizing theconflict and identity crisis which Poland and Hungary have caused and which have overshadowed accession talks for candidate countries. One intention is to contextualize the debate and dispute about values by incorporating interdisciplinary insights. Another is to challenge the (European perspective on the) rule of law cluster, inter alia, with the illiberal measures that Denmark has adopted.