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Populism, EU Institutions and Civil Society

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Highs and Lows of European Integration

Abstract

This chapter focuses on how the “populist turn” of recent years has affected EU institutions and the non-state actors which interact with them. It argues that in the broader context of the legacy of the 2008 financial crisis, the success of populist parties and movements has affected the composition, agendas, and political culture of European institutional actors and has then been negatively reflected in the prospects of the non-state actors that interact with them, their funding opportunities and strategies. It argues that as a consequence of the impact of populist formations, a fragmented reaction has occurred in each of the institutional domains considered—the European Commission, the Parliament, and civil society organizations. In particular, the success of populist forces in several member states and at EU level has specifically affected inclusionary antidiscrimination organizations. Changes have occurred in their perceptions of legitimacy and general political opportunities, and in the structure of their networks, which increasingly divide between a pro-EU and an anti-EU component.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The Grasp list website is described with these words: “What is the GRASPE? The individuals who decided to create the GRASPE share a common preoccupation: they feel that there is an urgent need to reflect on the evolution and prospects of the European integration project—from the point of view of its effects on sustainable growth, improved social cohesion, and more democratic governance—as a basis for constantly improving the service that the European administration can deliver to its “customers.” The GRASPE is, thus, a reflection group initiated by European civil servants with the aim of developing a common understanding of the broader context of the reform of the European civil service and, through it, actively contribute to the reform process.” Staff-Reporter (2017c). GRASPE—Groupe de Réflexion sur l’avenir du Service Public Européen Reflection Group on the Future of the European Civil Service [Online]. Available: http://graspe.eu/info.htm [Accessed 20.11.2017].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of International Studies, University of Trento, Trento, Italy

    Carlo Ruzza

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  1. Carlo Ruzza
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Correspondence to Carlo Ruzza .

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  1. School of International Studies, University of Trento, Trento, Italy

    Luisa Antoniolli , Luigi Bonatti  & Carlo Ruzza ,  & 

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Ruzza, C. (2019). Populism, EU Institutions and Civil Society. In: Antoniolli, L., Bonatti, L., Ruzza, C. (eds) Highs and Lows of European Integration. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93626-0_8

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