The EC Treaty of 1957, which stressed the economic aspects of the Union and envisioned a steady and dynamic progress towards a single market, focused solely on economic integration, and was conspicuously silent about the political implications of integration and a new democratic order. This has left political analysts to deal with the inadequacies of current democratic theory and the problems of modern 'governance' beyond the state.

Democracy in Europe makes a powerful and original contribution to this debate. It suggests a flexible system that supplements the European decision-making process with various direct democratic instruments that would serve to increase the accountability of politicians without demanding or requiring definitive resolutions of the constitutional status of the Union.