In this carefully argued case for a federal Europe, Céline Spector proposes that national sovereignty has become increasingly untenable as mechanisms perpetuating fiscal, social and environmental inequities transcend borders. Indeed, in the face of Russian aggression and America's apparent retreat from its protective role, strengthening European integration has become essential and federalization appears increasingly necessary.
Although the concept of the sovereign people has become symbolic within nation-states, Spector show that it has become devoid of substantive political force. Rather than lamenting the decline of direct democracy, she advocates for a democratized European Union that could redefine popular sovereignty and protect human rights. The transformation of state sovereignty need not signal democracy's end or the subordination of politics to law. Instead, it could facilitate new forms of political community at the European level and enable a reconceptualization of popular sovereignty beyond the nation-state.
| ISBN: | 9781788218924 |
| Publication date: | 30th April 2026 |
| Author: | Céline Spector |
| Publisher: | Agenda Publishing an imprint of Edinburgh University Press |
| Format: | Hardback |
| Pagination: | 240 pages |
| Series: | Understanding Europe |
| Genres: |
Political science and theory Nationalism Political structures: democracy Social and political philosophy |
In this carefully argued case for a federal Europe, Céline Spector proposes that national sovereignty has become increasingly untenable as mechanisms perpetuating fiscal, social and environmental inequities transcend borders. Indeed, in the face of Russian aggression and America's apparent retreat from its protective role, strengthening European integration has become essential and federalization appears increasingly necessary.
Although the concept of the sovereign people has become symbolic within nation-states, Spector show that it has become devoid of substantive political force. Rather than lamenting the decline of direct democracy, she advocates for a democratized European Union that could redefine popular sovereignty and protect human rights. The transformation of state sovereignty need not signal democracy's end or the subordination of politics to law. Instead, it could facilitate new forms of political community at the European level and enable a reconceptualization of popular sovereignty beyond the nation-state.
Whose Sovereignty? features in the following genres: Political science and theory, Nationalism, Political structures: democracy, Social and political philosophy
Whose Sovereignty? is available in Hardback
Whose Sovereignty? was written by Céline Spector and published by Agenda Publishing an imprint of Edinburgh University Press
Whose Sovereignty? has 240 pages
Yes it is part of Understanding Europe series
£67.50