The Influence of the European Court of Justice and the Role of Social Imaginaries in EU Governance

What is it about?

The European Union's legal framework has evolved significantly, with the European Court of Justice (ECJ) gaining substantial influence, reshaping EU governance and power structures. The paper explores the role of social imaginaries in understanding the rule of law crisis, particularly in Central and Eastern European (CEE) societies. Three key imaginaries are discussed: "Western normality" influenced CEE societies' post-socialist transformation and continues to impact recent rule of law crises. "Expertocracy" promotes expert-driven political decision-making, rejecting mass democracy. The "politics of emergency" seeks to transcend the post-political reality of the EU. The paper suggests that CEE states were not passive recipients but driving forces in shaping the current technocratic European project.

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