W1: theoretical perspectives on integration EXTRA

Question 1

Intergovernmentalism

Answer 1

Organizations in which member states work together on policies of common concern but retain their full sovereignty.

• Eu politics is dominated by the member state governments.
• Member state government have clear preferences; influenced by domestic interest groups.
• Member states are careful in what they delegate to EU institutions
• Asymmetrical power relations between member states

Question 2

Supranational politics

Answer 2

Organizations in which countries pool their sovereignty on certain matters to allow joint decision-making.

• Governments are not all powerful
• Supranational institutions have own interests and powers
• Eu policy outcomes often reflect unintended consequences of member states’ delegation of powers to supranational institutions

Question 3

supranational governance

Answer 3

Spinoff of the neofunctionalist theory. Points out that some policy sectors are more prone to integrative steps than others. In line with neo-functionalist ideas Sweet and Sandholtz point out that member states can oversee integrative steps only to a limited extent.

Question 4

New intergovernmentalism

Answer 4

• Context: post-Maastricht Treaty period, in which co-operation has occurred in certain policy areas without clear increase in supranational authority

Core claims:
- Tendency: not to delegate significant decision-making responsibilities nor regulatory responsibilities in certain areas (monetary union, justice and home affairs, CFSP,…)
- Shift: away from the Union method of decision-making

Question 5

Liberal intergovernmentalism

Answer 5

• Core author: Andrew Moravcsik

Context:
- Revival neofunctionalism: re-launching of the integration process in the 1980s
- Observation: major choices of integration reflected the preferences of national governments, not the preferences of supranational institutions

Core claim: Three-step model of integration

1. National governments’ preferences are shaped by domestic interest groups
   - Governments aggregate the interests of domestic constituencies (economics, parties, institutions).
   - Government interests are generally economic.
2. Governments engage in EU-level bargaining
   - Bargaining power reflects the relative power of the Member States.
   - No important role for the Commission (or CJEU).
3. Delegation to supranational actors to ensure credible commitments
   - Governments delegate sovereignty to supranational actors in order to increase the credibility of their mutual commitments.