Euroopan unioni politisoivana mahtina

Kirjoittajat

• Kari Palonen

Abstrakti

Politicisation as opening up of contingency refers to both an intended effect and a by-product of intentional activities. The EU strongly contributes to politicisation rather as a by-product than an intended effect of the European integration. Nonetheless, also this “passive” politicisation creates new horizons of contingency which can be used as new occasions for politicking. First, the EU membership creates new contingency by increasing the complexity of politics. Not only the relationship between the Union and its member states becomes controversial, but the very divide between domestic and foreign politics is set in new terms which also affect the internal power struggle both between the Union institutions and within the member states. Furthermore, the Union politics provokes among its citizens new forms of contingency in the sense of dissolving old identities, loyalties, community bounds and we-relationships. For the individuals within the EU this creates new opportunities for politicking by means of breaking down traditional forms of dependence and making the situation of the union citizens into a controversial topic.