Theories of the European Union Flashcards
Define Intergovernmental Politics
NATIONAL INTERESTS
Define Supranational Politics
ABOVE and BEYOND THE UNION/NATION STATES
Why is intergovernmentalism and supranationalism important?
- because the EU is about the balanace between these two theories and the combination of these two theories is what makes the EU different
what is the main assumption of (liberal) intergovernmentalism?
Member states are the main political actors in the EU
what is the main assumptions of supranational approaches?
the EU is a self-sustaining dynamic and is not easily changed through national interests
What are the 2 dimensions of european integration?
- vertical dimension: depth of political integration
- horizontal dimension: geographical reach of EU membership
What is vertical dimension: depth of political integration?
- competences
- scope of political competences of the EC/EU
- authority of supranational institutions
- modes of decision making in EU institutions
what is horizontal dimension: geographical reach of EU membership?
- membership
- any european country can apply for EU membership
- the EU council decides on applications
- accession states need to comply with ‘copenhagen criteria’
what is the ‘copenhagen criteria’?
- stable democracy
- liberal market economy
- adoption of EU legislation
what external and internal factors have contributes to advancs in european integration?
internal:
- historical memories such as rise of facism and war
- economic interests of key member states
- leadership by national heads of governement
- agency by supranational institutions and actors
external:
- geopolitical /security situtaio: from cold war to post 9/11
- division of tasks with other regional organizations(NATO)
- democratization in countries outside of the EC/EU
- global economic competition
How do advances in horizontal intergration affect the vertical dimension?
It creates pressure for institutional adjustment such as
- downsizing the size of institutions
- need for common representatives
- to proceed torwards majority voting
- establish the EU as a global actor
- need for more distributive policies= greater costs
it also causes enlargement which diltues political integration and a driver torwards increased EU competences
Maastricht Treaty 1992
- establishment of the european union
- transition to increased majority voting
Amsterdam and Nice treaties 1997/2000
removal of ‘leftovers’ from previous treaty (maastricht treat)
european constitutional treaty 2003-05
- initiative to create a strong political union
- treaty failed in dutch and french referendums 2005
lisbon treaty 2009
- adopts many ideas of failed constitutional treaty
- passed through parliamentary ratification
Both vertical and horizontal dimensions have advanced over time but especially strongly after….
the end of the cold war in the 1990s
How is vertical and horizontal dimensions linked with each others?
increased membership(horizontal) creates pressures to re-define the competences(vertical) and institutional order of the EU
according to the liberal intergovernmentalism theory what predictions do they have about the future of european integration?
its open/ not clearly defined but no expectation of a steady dynamic towards ever closer political integrations
what are the main assumptions of neo-functionalism(NF)?
european integration is a gradual, self-sustaining process of ever closer political cooperation between member states
what is the central element of explanation for neo-functionalism?
‘spill-over’
- functional
- political
- cultivated
what are similarities(fields of agreement) between LI and NF?
- appraisal of european integration as a positive development
- european integration as an elite driven process
- rational, economic interests as key drivers
what are differences between LI and NF?
they dont agree on WHO european integration is dominated by, or HOW IT TRANSFORMS national interests, and the ‘ever closer’ idea
Does NF believes the process of european integration is domniated by national interest?
NO
Does LI believes the process of european integration is domniated by national interest?
YES
