EMU och demokratin

Abstract

EMU and the democracy. This article addresses the question of the compatibility of democracy and membership in the European Monetary Union. The author draws on a mainstream legalistic conception of democracy advocated by several prominent political scientists, like Herbert Tingsten, Alf Ross, Brian Barry and Robert Dahl. Democracy is analytically linked to statehood. The question of sovereignty therefore becomes crucial. Does mem- Statsvetenskaplig Tidskrift 2000, årg 103 nr 1 96 Abstracts bership in the EMU alienate power over monetary policy or does it merely mean that monetary policy is delegated? The conclusion is that monetary policy is not alienated, but delegated. There is no reason to believe that the member states in the EMU alienate their legal power to pursue their own monetary policies, albeit this would be practically difficult. Practical difficulties should, however, not be confused with alienation of legal powers to take political measures. The crucial question is whether the actual command relations within the state are changed or not. The author maintains that hypothetical negative reactions from the market forces on a withdrawal of membership in the EMU (and the EU) do not affect the degree of democracy in the member states.