The Democratic Legitimacy of European Social Movement Organisations

European social movement organisations (ESMOs) are often considered as ideal mediators between the European political decision making and the European citizens. In this way these organisations can possibly contribute to the legitimization of European policy decisions. Critics do however argue that European social movement organisations often have a too elitist character and they therefore question the extent to which European social movement organisations can indeed fulfil this bridging role.
This book explores how ESMO legitimacy can be studied. By distinguishing between different aspects of legitimacy and by looking at two particular case studies (the trade union movement and the environmental movement) it offers a better insight on how the legitimacy of European social movement organisations can be understood in the specific multi-level context in which they are working.
The book offers both a better theoretical insight in the concept of “legitimacy” and an organizational perspective of the internal dynamics within ESMOs and between ESMOs and their national members.
The book will be of interest to students and academics in European studies, but also to a broader public of practitioners. Especially the in depth case studies will be of interest to an NGO/social movement public, which will offer them tools and best practices to work in multi-level interest campaigns.