Active Citizenship in Europe: Post-national, Post-political, not quite Supranational: What Next?

Abstract

The Panel calls for contributions addressing the changes (or indeed lack of changes) in collective activism among citizens and migrants through social movements and civil society organisations, and the role of resulting non/state actors (including public and private interest groups) in shaping relevant policy-developments. In particular, the Panel is interested in demonstrating current practices and understanding of ‘active (EU) citizenship’ – that, as per the Commission’s definition, requires the inclusion of non/state actors to connect individuals with the EU institutions. Owing to its definition, active EU citizenship is expected to be at least transnational and point towards a supranational model – and so include activism from and represent the interests of citizens across member state borders as well as migrants (from within and outside of Europe). These collective actions are anticipated to form the basis of transnational and, potentially, supra-national civil society organizations and social movements. The Panel calls for contributions, which look at the collective activism of citizens and migrants who work as part of such non/state actors, addressing the issue of active (EU) citizenship today.