The challenge from nationalism for European citizenship and democracy: The potentials for resistance from transnational civil society

The paper reflects upon the democratic challenges posed by the growth of new forms of nationalism across Europe for civic, political and social citizenship exacerbated by the economic and financial crisis. Scholars have argued that we need to reframe citizenship a new multilayered conception of citizenship which extends from the local to the transnational level, because people are no longer connected primarily to the nation state but are simultaneously citizens in more than one political community. European scholarship has discussed the potential and barriers to develop EU citizenship, democracy and public sphere. The theoretical question is whether democracy and citizenship beyond the nation state is feasible. The analytical question is whether a European citizenship, democracy and public sphere is emerging within the EUs multilevel institutions and policy frame. The normative question is whether a post-national citizenship is desirable.