Public Involvement and the Formation of Public Policy: The Case of European Monetary Union
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Author
Frost, Jennifer Ann
Subject
Washington and Lee University -- Honors in Public Policy
Economic and Monetary Union
Monetary policy
European Economic Community
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European Monetary Union (EMU) represents a complex and technical issue which
has been surrounded by controversy since its beginnings. Thus, disagreement on this issue
has been widespread. This study examines the disagreement between policy-makers and
the public to determine whether or not it was dealt with in a just and democratic manner,
consistent with the principles of Gutmann and Thompson's democratic deliberation
theory.
Section I, Democratic Deliberation and EMU, outlines Gutmann and Thompson's
deliberation theory and introduces some of the difficulties the EMU debate has
encountered trying to fulfill Gutmann and Thompson's deliberative principles. Section II,
The History Behind European Monetary Union, guides us through EMU's history and
illustrates the importance of adhering to Gutmann and Thompson's deliberative theory.
Section III, The Crucial Role of Institutional Design, reveals that Gutmann and
Thompson's theory cannot be fully examined without investigating institutional design.
Investigating institutional design is a crucial omission from Gutmann and Thompson's
theory and the EMU case demonstrates its importance. Section IV, The Relationship
Between Public Opinion and Adherence to Gutmann and Thompson's Deliberative
Principles, analyzes public opinion by studying opinion polls and national elections, to see
what it can tell us about Gutmann and Thompson's theory.
My study concludes with the assertion that through increased dedication to
Gutmann and Thompson's principles of publicity and accountability, EMU has earned its
legitimacy. However, this study shows that the road to legitimacy was neither a short nor
easy path. Instead, EMU has proven to be a long and difficult process in which progress
occurred through learning from mistakes. [From Introduction]