A Political Disconnect? Evidence From Votes on EU Trade Agreements?

The European Union (EU) has long been accused of suffering from a “democratic deficit.” The European Parliament (EP), the only EU institution directly elected by citizens, is seen as having limited powers. Moreover, its members (MEPs) are often portrayed as unresponsive to the interests of their constituents due to the second-order nature of European elections: instead of being shaped by EU policies, they are driven by domestic politics. In this paper, we provide evidence against these Eurosceptic arguments using data on a key policy choice made by MEPs: the approval of free trade agreements.

Nachiket Midha

Nachiket Midha is an MSc in Politics candidate at the University of Oxford (St Antony's College). He recently graduated with distinction from Ashoka University with a PGDipASR (Summa Cum Laude) and BA (Hons) in Political Science (Magna Cum Laude). His research spans political dynasties, democratisation, and the intersections of gender and governance, with a focus on India and global political trends.

Franc Tireur

Elena Sofia Massacesi

I am a first year MPhil student in European Politics and Society and part of St Antony's College. Prior to studying at Oxford, I earned a Bachelor of Science in Politics and International Relations from University College London (UCL), graduating with First Class Honours and as a member of the Dean's List. My primary research interests are environmental policy, business-government relations, and the European Green Deal.

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