REPRESENTING DIFFUSE INTERESTS IN EC POLICY-MAKING

Protecting diffuse interests has long been recognized as a central cha llenge in any system of governance, and has proven problematic in the European Community (EC) as well. Indeed, a number of analysts have arg ued that the EC is a 'businessman's Europe,' privileging concentrated and mobile capital over other interests and precipitating a deregulato ry 'race to the bottom.' EC institutions, however, present opportuniti es as well as risks for diffuse interests such as environmentalists, c onsumers, and women. In particular, the institutions of the EC - chara cterized by both multiple tiers of government and by a separation of p owers at the Community level - provide diffuse interests with multiple points of access, which they have used effectively to secure the adop tion and the implementation of EC policies. These arguments are illust rated through a brief examination of EC policies in the areas of envir onmental protection, consumer protection, and women's rights.