Foreword by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte; Introduction: Reflections on Democracy in the European Union; Acknowledgements; Part I The Living European Union – Contemporary Challenges; Chapter 1 Combating Poverty in the European Union (Koen Caminada & Kees Goudswaard); Chapter 2 Tackling Online Freedom of Expression: The European Approach (Michael Klos); Chapter 3 A Europe-First Approach for Defence (Rob de Wijk); Chapter 4 The European Parliament, Carl Schmitt and the State of Exception: Two Degrees of Emergency? (Raisa Blommestijn); Part II In Defence of European Democracy and the Rule of Law; Chapter 5 Brexit and the Real Democratic Deficit: Refitting National and EU Democracy for a Global Reality (Armin Cuyvers); Chapter 6 The European Union, a New Weimar? In Defence of Democracy and the Spectre of Populism (Afshin Ellian & Raisa Blommestijn); Chapter 7 Architectures of Power: a (re)interpretation of Schmitt’s Parliament-Thesis and Its Relevance for the European Union (Bastiaan Rijpkema); Chapter 8 Strengthening the Rule of Law Within the Union: Some Advice to Break the Deadlock (Paul Cliteur); Part III The European Union and Its Historical Design; Chapter 9 The EU and Conspiracy Theories (Andrew Fink); Chapter 10 The Religious Factor in European Integration: Perspectives From the Catholic and Protestant Churches (Sergei Mudrov); Chapter 11 70 Years since Schuman Declaration. The Topicality of Schuman’s Frame of Reference for EU Today and Tomorrow (Margriet Krijtenburg; Chapter 12 Romania and Eastern Europe: Challenging Some Contemporary Narratives (Ligia Tomoiagă); List of Contributors; Index“This book is an enrichment for the standing debate about Europe and should be published and widely read and discussed.” – Boudewijn R.A. BouckaertReflections on Democracy in the European Union, with a foreword by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, is a unique volume that offers an interdisciplinary approach on EU democracy, law and politics from economic, juridical and philosophical perspectives. It is divided in three parts and deals with EU’s contemporary challenges, its historical development, democracy and rule of law. The volume connects the EU’s present to the past in order to reflect on possible future scenario’s – which is especially important in these turbulent times after Brexit.The volume is highly recommended for academics, economists, politicians, jurists and policy makers.