Schmidt Publishes Article on European Emergency Politics
Vivien Schmidt, Jean Monnet Professor of European Integration and Professor of International Relations and Political Science at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University, published an article in the newly created debate section of the Journal of European Public Policy.
In the article, titled “European emergency politics and the question of legitimacy,” Schmidt discusses the legitimacy of executive authorities’ governing activities in times of crisis, and in particular whether ensuring effective outcomes can make up for the temporary suspension of political responsiveness and accountable procedures. The piece outlines the theoretical issues involved and considers the legitimacy and rhetorical power of political executives in multilateral emergency politics and technical executives in supranational emergency politics. The full article can be read on the Journal of European Public Policy‘s website.
On May 25, 2021, Schmidt continued the discussion on this matter by participating in a roundtable for the launch of the debate section in the Journal of European Public Policy hosted by University College London (UCL) and the London School of Economics European Institute. The panel explored the dynamics, drivers, and consequences of today’s exceptional politics in the European Union. Departing from two recent books by Kreuder-Sonnen and White, the speakers examine how the script of emergency rule gets transferred to the transnational setting, how it shapes the public communication of EU actors, and what questions of legitimacy arise. Details on this event and others in the UCL European Politics Series can be found online.
Vivien Schmidt is Professor of International Relations and Jean Monnet Professor of European Integration at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies and was the first Director of BU’s Center for the Study of Europe, housed at the Pardee School. Schmidt’s research focuses on European political economy, institutions, democracy, and political theory—in particular on the importance of ideas and discourse in political analysis. Read more about Professor Schmidt on her faculty profile.