As the European Year of Citizens (2013) dawns, the European Union (EU) finds itself at a crossroads. One of the largest international organisations in the world, it has built a reputation as an international community model and democratic figure judged in the context of a multi-level system. However, the EU has recently departed from both roles, as its economic practices suffer dramatically from a lack of political pressure and regulation. The EU now faces an uncertain future: should it break apart or move forward with deeper integration and a “more Europe” attitude? In contrast to public and scholarly concern, this thesis does not treat the crisis as abstract evidence of a structural democracy deficit. This thesis instead attempts to draw attention to the point of departure, the European citizen, and a social cleavage that can be easily addressed despite ongoing economic insecurity. In this sense, this thesis differs from current academic thought in that it focuses less on understanding how democracy can be achieved and more on understanding how democracy, which already exists, can be enhanced. This paper looks at how two discourses identified in the literature (civil society and cosmopolitanism) could be combined in a governance framework that would support the EU to become a civilian power. It will complete this investigation through the use of case studies on two civil society organisations based in Spain and primary data collected from within the European Parliament (EP). The case studies will be used to understand how local civil society can improve the democratic quality of EU governance whilst meeting individuals’ needs and rights. This paper will conclude that, in the case of Spain 2012, local civil society creates three core conditions for active citizen participation that the EU can benefit from, despite the challenging environment surrounding it.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-29T14:17:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcia Moussallem.pdf: 8551985 bytes, checksum: fa23cb4958d7eee575921f67a63e44ee (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-04-25 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / This dissertation proposes the introduction to a unique case study of the not-for-profit social assistance association Catholic Ladies League of Sao Paulo . The study stemmed initially from the interest in verifying the role of philanthropic associations that act in the field of social assistance, and that face new social matters in today's society. The fast-paced process of globalization that has been taking place since the twentieth century, and beginning of the twentieth-first century has brought forth significant changes in social, political and economic relations to all societies. In this new scenario one notices the emergence and relevance of notfor- profit associations in public spaces. In Brazil, most of these associations were born in the first moments of the colonization period, and were strongly influenced by the Catholic Church and by philanthropic practices. Thus the study has tried to verify if it is possible that a centennial association founded by the Catholic Church can make progress in its practices and actions towards paths which lead to citizen rights recognition. It is the general goal of this study to check the requisites for the association's actions that identify the passage from philanthropic actions to recognition of citizen rights. The methodology adopted was that of a unique case study by utilizing such research tools as: document analysis, direct observation, interviews with managers, technicians, partners and customers of the association, as well as professors that study the subject. As for the conclusion, it is observed that the association has been changing gradually throughout the different stages of the Brazilian history. After the country's redemocratization period, a new stage of the association with significant changes in the field of citizen rights is initiated. In the past nine years (1998 2007) it has been noticed the most relevant changes in all areas - from the administration to social programmes objectives conduct / Esta dissertação tem como proposta a apresentação de um estudo de caso único da associação sem fins econômicos de assistência social a Liga das Senhoras Católicas de São Paulo . Este estudo partiu inicialmente do interesse em poder verificar o papel das associações filantrópicas que atuam no campo sócio assistencial, diante dos novos problemas sociais da sociedade contemporânea. O acelerado processo de globalização que vem ocorrendo a partir do século XX e inicio do século XXI, tem acarretado transformações significativas nas relações sociais, políticas e econômicas em todas as sociedades. Neste novo cenário observa-se a emergência e relevância das associações sem fins econômicos nos espaços públicos. No Brasil a grande maioria dessas associações data dos primeiros períodos da nossa colonização sendo fortemente marcadas pela influencia da Igreja Católica e por praticas filantrópicas. Assim procurou-se verificar se é possível uma associação centenária criada pela Igreja Católica avançar em suas praticas e ações para caminhos que levem em direção ao reconhecimento dos direitos de cidadania. Como objetivo geral do estudo procurou-se verificar os requisitos nas ações da associação que identifiquem a passagem do exercício da filantropia para o reconhecimento da cidadania. Como metodologia adotou-se um estudo de caso único, por meio da utilização dos instrumentais de pesquisa como análise documental, observação direta, entrevistas com gestores, técnicos, parceiro e usuários da entidade e professores que estudam o tema. Como conclusão pode-se constatar que a associação no decorrer das diferentes fases da história do Brasil vem se transformando gradativamente. Após o período de redemocratização do Brasil dá-se inicio uma nova fase na associação por meio de mudanças mais significativas no campo dos direitos de cidadania. Nos últimos nove anos (1998-2007) constatou-se as mudanças mais significativas em todas as áreas, desde a administrativa até a condução dos objetivos dos programas sociais