5 - Theories of European Integration Flashcards
Neo-functionalism
looks at the accumulation of power at supranational level by applying the notion of spillover and by neglecting the role of MS as integration drivers
Intergovernmentalism
places MS at the center of bargaining. The EU is seen as a venture in cooperation among states. Pooled sovereignty does not diminish the role of the state but rather enforces it. The EU reflects the preferences of national governments rather than than supranational institutions.
Institutionalism
institution matters are more than reflections of social forces and so more than producing a neutral arena for political interaction
Rational Choice Institutionalism
the delegation of authority to supranational institutions; supranational institutions are agents created by MS to reduce transaction costs in the functioning of the EU
Most similar theory to intergovernmentalism
Sociological Institutionalism
includes cultural aspects such as administrative culture, norms, and values in MS relations with the EU
Historical Institutionalism
Focuses on the role of time
politics in the EU is a path of dependence process
Institutions can integrate experiences and norms over time
Spill over
A situation in which an action can only be taken related to a specific goal if further actions are taken
Functional spill-over
Integration in one sector creates a necessity for integration in related sectors due to economic interdependencies
Political spill-over
The creation and strengthening of supranational institutions, which then promote further integration
Cultivated spill-over
Active efforts by supranational actors to promote integration beyond what would naturally occur from economic or political dynamics
Intergovernmental concepts from Neo-realism
1) states as only important actors
2) anarchic international system
3) distribution of capabilities as main explanatory variable
Governance approach
governing is the interaction of many actors without a clear divide between public and private sphere
EU through governance model
EU politics and policies are the results of interactions between the commission, the MS, regions, interest groups
Europeanization
the process of domestic adaptation to European regional integration
The consequences of European integration for MS
Vertical directionality of Europeanization
1) the domestic adjustment of MS to the EU = downloading
2) MS activation to upload their demands to the EU level
Horizontal europeanization
the transfer of concepts and policies between MS under circumstances where the EU has not played a legislative role = crossloading
Acquis communitaire
set of rules and directives that a state joining the EU must adhere to
Democratic deficit
- loss of democratic accountability of national governments transferring the right to legislate to ministers meeting in the Council
- now its the distance between EU institutions and voters
causes of democratic deficit
- Representation - the EP is not a parliament representing a single people
- Accountability - the choice of the executive is not visible as in national contexts
- A complex polity - not comparable with a national one
