Converging Methods Of Governance At The Supranational Level – The Role Of Civil Society

Abstract

This article is divided in three parts. Part I briefly introduces a few examples of coalitions of civil society actors operating at the supranational level. These coalitions advocate for topics as diverse as environmental protection, global poverty, transparency, social innovation and fight to corruption; and they cooperate with a vast range of supranational organisations. Part II of this article reflects on the role of the coalitions of civil society actors in shaping closer connections between methods of administrative governance pertaining different supranational regulators. To conclude, Part III of this article envisages a number of tensions that may raise doubts about civil society coalitions’ desirability as drivers of harmonized principles of administrative governance at the supranational level. Coalitions of civil society actors may be good at influencing supranational policies, but – it may be asked – can they truly encourage the spill over of a method of democratic governance across supranational legal regimes? Further: should they?