Citizenship and Democratic Innovations in Europe

— —

Ireneusz Paweł Karolewski (Leipzig University, Germany) Carsten Herzberg (mitMachen e. V., Germany)

Citizenship and Democratic Innovations in Europe

Ireneusz Paweł Karolewski (Leipzig University, Germany), Carsten Herzberg (mitMachen e. V., Germany)

$398.95 $319.42

Hardback

Forthcoming
Pre-Order now

QTY:

English

Routledge
16 October 2025

Regional studies; Social & political philosophy; Political structures: democracy; Public administration; International relations

Series: Critical European Studies

This book brings together scholarship and debates on citizenship and democratic innovation, and examines how democratic innovations might change, or even consolidate, the existing contours of citizenship.

Arguing that the nexus between research on citizenship and democratic innovations can be found in the praxis approach to citizenship, where citizenship can be framed as a realm of actions and practices, the book shifts the discussion from the institutional level into a more conceptual realm of analysis. Taking stock of the democratic innovations at the local level, the national level, and the EU-level, such as citizen assemblies, referendums, and participatory budgeting, the book further surveys and maps their contribution to the democratic quality of citizenship across various European countries.

This book is of key interest to scholars and students of democratic innovations, citizenship studies, democratization, governance, and more generally public policy, and European Politics and Studies.

Edited by: Ireneusz Paweł Karolewski (Leipzig University Germany), Carsten Herzberg (mitMachen e. V., Germany)
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781032866437
ISBN 10: 1032866438
Series: Critical European Studies
Pages: 256
Publication Date: 16 October 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Primary
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Introduction: Citizenship and democratic innovations in Europe Part 1: Conceptual Debates 1. Citizenship theory and democratic innovations 2. Political trade-offs in governance between experts, politicians and citizens: A comparative study in Southern European countries Part 2: Deliberative Approaches 3. The French Citizen Climate Convention: Mini-publics and the un-deliberative democratic system 4. Political representation of denizens 5. Empowering citizens through democratic innovations: The case of Polish Citizens’ Assemblies Part 3: Direct Democracy 6. Direct democracy integrity and referendums in Italy and Russia: The role of citizenship 7. The European Citizens’ Initiative: Another case for Citizens’ Washing 8. Democratic innovations in Serbia: In search for impact Part 4: Participatory budgeting 9. The new wave of participatory budgeting in eastern Germany: Discussing the shift from consultation to direct democracy 10. The national participatory budgeting in Portugal: Pursuing a transcalar vision of citizenship? 11. Democratic innovations in a hybrid space: Insights from participatory budgeting in Ukraine

Ireneusz Paweł Karolewski is Professor for Political Theory and Democracy Research at Leipzig University, Germany. Carsten Herzberg is an expert adviser at the NGO ‘mitMachen’ in Potsdam, Germany, where he leads in Brandenburg projects on civic education and democracy for young people.

Reviews for Citizenship and Democratic Innovations in Europe

""Citizens´ juries, participatory budgeting and direct democracy: this book presents a detailed analysis of the most important democratic innovations in Western and Eastern Europe in the last decades."" Yves Sintomer, Nuffield College, University of Oxford, UK ""When democratic life weakens, the knee-jerk reaction is to innovate. Innovation could lead to salvation and the question is for whom: could the citizens benefit - or would reinterpreting democracy lead to throwing the baby with the bath water, leading to unchecked rule? This innovative collection walks the tightrope of rigorous clarity between the two scenarios and is guided by the unquestionable ideal of keeping democratic legitimation of power alive."" Dimitry V. Kochenov, Central European University Democracy Institute, Budapest and Vienna