WEEK 5: Explaining the EU: Theories of Integration Flashcards
What is the Exceptionalism view to the creation of the EU?
The EU is something exceptional (sui generis), it represents one of a kind
What is the Comparative Approach to the EU?
The EU is not different from any political system in being unique in its own way
What is the definition of a political system?
“the concept of system implies a totality of relevant units, an interdependence between the interaction of units, and a certain stability in the interaction of units” (Almond, 1957)
Why was the concept of a Political System developed?
Mid 50’s/Early 60’s: US political scientists develop the concept of political system to study formless, primitive, developing polities
What are the characteristics of political systems?
(Almond, 1957)
- Stable and clearly defined set of institutions for collective decision-making
- Citizens have input in political system
- Decisions have significant impact on the distribution of resources
- Continuous interactions between inputs and outputs, demands and decisions
(That is, it determines “who gets what, when and how” (Lasswell, 1936))
What are the state-like features of the EU?
- EU-law is supreme and directly applicable to Member States
- The EU has exclusive competences in several policy areas
- The EU distributes resources
- The EU has a directly elected parliament
- The EU has a territory
What are the international organisation like features of the EU?
- Member-states sign treaties
- The EU budget and competences are limited
- Cooperation is voluntary
- The EU does not have the monopoly of legitimate violence
What is Neo-functionalism?
Theory of regional integration with reference to how three causal factors interact:
Growing economic interdependence between nations
Organizational capacity to resolve disputes and build international legal regimes
Supranational market rules that replace national regulatory regimes
Strong view of positive spillover: Integration in one sector beget its own impetus and spread to others
Why was Neo-functionalism viewed obsolete at one point?
founder of the term, Ernst B. Haas, after the process of European integration started stalling in the 1960s, when Charles de Gaulle’s “empty chair” politics paralyzed the institutions of the European Coal and Steel Community, European Economic Community, and European Atomic Energy Community
What are the 3 positive spillover effects considered in Neo-functionalism?
- Functional: Sectoral Interdepency
- Political: Socialisation of Elites (Lindberg) and Non-Governmental elites (Haas)
- Cultivated
What’s meant by the Functional Spillover?
Some sectors in politics be so interdependent that it will be impossible to treat them in isolation. Integration in one such sector will require integration in another to counter the problem of this functional interdependence
What’s meant by the Political spillover?
Interests will be better served at supranational rather than through national solutions. Lead to a refocus of activities and eventually loyalties towards the supranational level
What’s meant by the Cultivated Spillover?
role of central institutions in fostering integration (mediatory service played by the European Commission, European Parliament etc). Emphasis on upgrading of the ‘common interest’ in negotiations
What is the view of Intergovernmentalism on the EU?
- International Organisation serve the interests of Member states
- National Governments control the nature and pace of integration
-Integration does not ‘spread over’ sectors like national security or defence
What is Liberal Intergovernmentalism?
- Based on Putnam’s two level-game theory
- Takes into account role of domestic actors and negotiations between statesmen
- Still believes the member states lead integration process but domestic environment of member states must be analysed
-Emphasis on formation of win sets (Putnam)
