class 9 Flashcards
Theoretical approaches
Where was political science more advanced?
In American than in Europe, and that is why America looked into the EU first
What did Jean Monnet want of Europe
A federal Europe, but Americans developed theories around it
The EU is something between…
A super-state and a conventional IO
What are the two old theories?
Neo-functionalism (related to spillover and elite socialization and the formation of supranational interests groups ) developed as a theory in politics by Haas and others AND Intergoverntalism with Moravscick
what is the term spill-over? (3 types)
functional or technical spill over → when you start working together in one area it will spill to others
political spillovers → Politicians are central, not automatic
cultivated → loyalties will shift, integration will deepen and widen
What is elite socialization?
bureaucrats and elites will be socialized into living in the EU as a concept
What is liberal intergovernamentalism?
Is the newest, it’s a national preference formation, an inter-state bargaining on those preferences, the strongest states will get their preferences (that was the problem) and institutional delegation (when it is in your interest to delegate it to the EU parliament)
what are critics of neo-functionalism and intergovernmentalism?
a. don’t fit with reality, they can’t explain everything. the whole 1980s period.
b. both of these theories are based on IR literature that focuses on states. The EU is different and wasn’t completely adapted for the EU
c. Seen as grand theories that can explain everything (very little in social sciences)
d. always focusing on the EU as an independent variable and on how member states shape the EU. The focus is now on the impact of the EU on the member states and non vice-versa
what are the new theories of the EU integration?
institutionalism
social constructivism
new regionalism
explain institutionalism (3 types)
EU consists of vast members of EU institutions that can change in different direct, formal, and informal roles.
a. rational choice institutionalism (based on rationality, gained soft influence)
b. historical institutionalism (path dependency)
c. sociological institutionalism (culture, identity, the European parliament has contributed to shaping the European population)
explain social constructivism
interests are not given, countries are willing to change when they’re together
explain new regionalism
is the last in theory development, how it interacts between members and the EU itself, regionally, nationally, and globally
EU was used as a template for the analysis of other regional projects
