The wig-bearers hath shed their hubris

[AmericanPop]

The charge towards European Unification came to a halt in 2005 when, disallowed both by French and Dutch citizens, the continent failed to ratify its first constitution. The newly drafted document was put to referendum by a small minority (the French and the Dutch ) whereas the rest of the continent assured its consent only through parliamentary resolve. The setback has coaxed many Eurolites to question the E.U.'s capacity to progress in light of these populist hindrances.

Now, two years later, the document remains parallel to its prototype in function, but its parlance has been engineered so as to render it unintelligeable to the average citizen. Suprisingly, the change has been acknowledged, and even praised, openly by many European leaders. Citizens are more likely to acquiesce to parliamentarians when they brand an issue too complex or of little importance to them - bureaucratic jargon often has this effect.

As the second vote approaches, it is likely that the constitution will pass, even amidst minor rebuking from dissident states. Regardless, a heavy debate has arisen which I feel is bigger than the E.U; a debate inextricably linked to globalization in general.

Keeping in mind that in the past, nation-states have almost always been created by the work of a few men, not the masses, and that we can thank much of our progression to this fact:

Should parliamentarians be allowed to bind its citizens into supranational alliances without DIRECT consent from its citizens, i.e. referenda?

[marcinmoka]

The charge towards European Unification came to a halt in 2005

I would much rather use technical consolidation experienced a detour of sorts. A grand debate about management style if you will.

Should parliamentarians be allowed to bind its citizens into supranational alliances without DIRECT consent from its citizens, i.e. referenda?

Doesn't some form of consent stand in the simple fact that a regions citizens knowingly voted in their own parliamentary representation in a supranational parliament thereby granting them some authority and discretion.

Regardless, a heavy debate has arisen which I feel is bigger than the E.U; a debate inextricably linked to globalization in general.

Of course, and that debate rages on this side of the pond as well. Difference being we haven't the colorful collection of prominent communists, radical socialists, and ultra nationalists in either Canada or the U.S. to make as much noise, even though Edwards and his blue collar rhetoric, Layton and his NDP aparatchiks, or the nativist wings of the Republican party try rather hard. Even the Montebello summit a few days ago was symptomatic of this issue (even though managed to twist it into some grand, and often contradictory conspiracy theories)