For the first time this new collection brings together country specialists researchers on the European Union and leading international relations scholars to tackle a crucial question: how compatible are todayâs new patterns of âpolicy networksâ and âmulti-levelâ governance with democratic standards? This important question is attracting attention both in political science and in political practices. In political science the question is mainly dealt with in separated sub-disciplines which focus on different levels of politics. So far no serious exchange has actually taken place between authors working on these different levels. The editors of this book â both specialists of network and multi-level governance â show that although the issue is raised differently in the institutional settings of the national state the European Union or transnational governance excellent insights can be gained by comparison across these settings. This major new contribution includes cutting edge work from junior scholars alongside chapters by leading specialists of governance such as Guy Peters Jon Pierre Philippe C. Schmitter and Thomas Risse. It also contains a collection of new case studies theoretical conceptualisations and normative proposals for solutions dealing with the issue of democratic deficits which all give the reader a better understanding of the most crucial problems and perspectives of democracy in different patterns of governance beyond conventional âgovernmentâ approaches. This is a valuable book for policy analysts students of the European Union and international relations and all students in social and political science. . Language: English