Utz Schliesky shows the historical development of the concepts of sovereignty and legitimacy of administrative power which are central to the theory of the state; he proves that their structure is not suited to the multiple levels of the European Union and its members. He outlines a system of common sovereignty and a new concept of plural legitimation so that these concepts may be used for the purpose for which they were created.

Every state in history has needed sovereignty and legitimacy of administrative power, and the modern state is no exception to this. However these concepts are under pressure from European integration and inner-state cooperation. Utz Schliesky shows the historical development of these concepts which are central to the theory of the state; he proves that their structure is not suited to the multiple levels of the European Union and its members. He outlines a system of common sovereignty and a new concept of plural legitimation so that these concepts may be used for the purpose for which they were created.

Autorentext
ist Direktor des Schleswig-Holsteinischen Landtages und Vorstandsmitglied des Lorenz-von-Stein-Instituts für Verwaltungswissenschaften an der Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel.