Systems of Democratic Representation in European Political Culture(s)
Systems of Democratic Representation in European Political Culture(s)

Summary/Abstract: The ‘hard core’ of Western liberal democracies includes the principle of representation that makes legislative institutions (Parliaments, Congresses or National Assemblies) the most characteristic and legitimated institutions of modern democratic systems. Political will of individuals in particular and of the entire population is theoretically concentrated in the representative body. It is considered that expression of people `s sovereignty in democratic systems resides in the way in which different political options compete for seats in parliament and then in the capacity of elected politicians to carry out the interests of their electors. This paper deals with the main models of national democratic representation in legislative institutions, taking into consideration some famous parliaments in Western Europe. We also include the Romanian Parliament in our analysis in order to find out the way in which post-communist Romania has followed or not one of the well-known models in Europe. I assume in my paper the fact that political institutions are (quite often) the image of a deep political culture. In advanced democracies there is no doubt that (beyond significant convergence from the past decades) different political cultures are still reflected into different political systems. The subject is far more complicated in recent democracies of East Central European countries, because post-communist constitutions from the early 90`s could hardly give an answer (in such a short time) to specific political pressures and to real cultural demands. In most cases these new constitutions were the result of a rapid choice between some famous models in Western Europe. It is also the case of the Romanian Constitution from 1991. At that time it was probably the best solution but after the first decade of democracy we have to upgrade the national political system according to new realities and to certain challenges of the European integration process.

• Details
• Contents