Round #2 Log -- Rich Sordahl

#1

Source: Journal of European Public Policy

Search Terms: European Union Integration

Search Date: 12-5-09

Citation: Vatter, A., & Bernauer, J. (2009). The Missing Dimension of Democracy: Institutional Patterns in 25 EU Member States Between 1997 and 2006. European Union Politics , 10 (3), 335-359.

Overview: This piece assists me in exploring how the EU is not only interesting in become more centralized and bureaucratic, but that it also wants to perpetuate this philosophy to other regions of the world, leading to distant decision-making and a lower quality of life. This type of external policymaking effort should be alarming to smaller nations who may be usurped and consequently lose sovereignty.

#2

Source: European Union Politics

Search Terms: European Union Democracy Patterns

Search Date: 12-6-09

Citation: Vatter, A., & Bernauer, J. (2009). The Missing Dimension of Democracy: Institutional Patterns in 25 EU Member States Between 1997 and 2006. European Union Politics , 10 (3), 335-359.

Overview: This article studies 12 politico-institutional variables for 25 member states in the EU to examine the varying patterns of “democracy” emerging. This piece is important to my paper in that it helps to establish some reference points to work with in relation to how different nations are defining democracy and what membership in EU means to the path toward democracy. I’m interested to see how these trends match up with George Ritzer’s (The McDonaldization of Society) belief that the quest for efficiency will ultimately lead to a lower quality of life as citizens grow increasingly distant from those who govern them.

#3

Source: Wall Street Journal – Eastern Edition

Search Terms: European Union Bureaucracy

Search Date: 12-6-09

Citation: Leonard, M. (2009, June 9). Europe's Self-Hating Parliamentarians. Wall Street Journal -- Eastern Edition , 253 (133), p. A17.

Overview: This article scrutinizes the European Union as a political system. In particular, there’s a focus on the growing paradox of increasing power within the European Parliament coupled with declining public interest in the institution’s existence and its activities. What is interesting is the assertion by some members of Parliament that the very body they serve should cease to exist. There is a correlation drawn between the growth of bureaucracy in the European Union and a populist backlash from its citizens. This may further reinforce George Ritzer’s (The McDonaldization of Society) contention that the push for efficiency and bureaucracy actually leads to the irrationality of rationality, which in this case means an overall lower quality of life for citizens.