Political Science and the EU - PDF

Political Science and EU The EU is a political system, an Unidentified Political Object (UPO), a 'nature of the beast' discussion. → Sui generis - unique in itself. Key questions: - Which concepts help us categorize our knowledge about the EU? - Is there solidarity among European nation-states? Just...

Political Science and EU The EU is a political system, an Unidentified Political Object (UPO), a 'nature of the beast' discussion. → Sui generis - unique in itself. Key questions: - Which concepts help us categorize our knowledge about the EU? - Is there solidarity among European nation-states? Just study one? - Power sharing among political institutions in a multi-level system? Goal: Make it practically impossible to start a war. → EU one of the centers of global power. The Relationship Between the EU and Member States Did the EU already exist in one way or another? It draws from historical forms of governance such as confederations, nation-states, empires, and colonies while remaining unique. - Statehood (E. Gellner): Reflects on how modernity shaped nation-states (NS) and how the EU is built upon and diverges from these traditional forms. - Imagined Community (B. Anderson): Highlights how EU is a construct, much like nations were, representing collective identity beyond physical borders. - Symbiosis vs. Rivalry (P. Taylor): EU exists in cooperation with member states (MS), ensuring mutual benefit, a relationship influenced by historical governance forms like confederations and empires. - Sovereignty (A. Milward): While historical governance often centralized power, the EU redefines sovereignty as shared and enhanced by integration, blending historical models with modern realities. 1992: Maastricht Treaty marked the formal start of the EU, establishing symbols like the flag and reinforcing the constructivist idea (shared symbols foster identity and unity). European nation-states, whose economies were too small to compete globally, formed a symbiotic relationship within the EU to strengthen global presence. → EU can only exist if the states that formed it want it to exist. Characteristics that helped shape the EU 1.Federalism Advocates for a supra-state "United States of Europe" to replace national states and overcome nationalism. (To strong) federalist characteristics in treaties (EC/EU) often fail ratification due to national resistance (parliamentary/ referendum). EDC/ Constitution for Europe federalist movement is a driving force of EU integration. 2.Intergovernmentalism Discusses what kind of integration among European states was desired post-WWII. Intergovernmentalism: States power/ core sovereignty should remain intact especially in high political (Stanley Hoffmann) and nationally sensitive areas (army, money/ currency issues). Integration in practice: Member states delegate tasks to Brussels if it serves national interests. Because it's better organized in Brussels or to avoid the political cost in national politics, if a painful decision is necessary. → States only cooperate and delegate when it benefits them, especially avoiding sensitive issues like military or money. 3.Liberal Intergovernmentalism Andrew Moravcsik’s theory 'preferences of power' emphasizes: - Formation of national preferences and intergovernmental bargaining. - What national interests to defend and promote intergovernmentally? - Delegation of authority to EU institutions through interstate agreements. - Single Market demonstrates how economic integration was negotiated to balance national and collective interests. - Economic benefits and strategic negotiations lead states to integrate more deeply while still safeguarding their key national interests. 4. Functionalism and Neo-functionalism Functionalism (David Mitrany - A working peace system): Promotes functional non-political, technocratic integration to make war impossible. - Applied by Jean Monnet: The EC’s formation is based on this technocratic logic, thus the blame for technocracy. → By choice. It's on purpose. Premises of Neo-functionalism Neo-functionalism (Ernst Haas - The Uniting of Europe): Builds on functionalism with these main premises: 1. Gradual Integration (Spillover): Integration in one area necessitates cooperation in others. → Ever closer union: ECSC → EEC → Single Market → Euro (Deepening) 2. Elite Socialization/ loyalty transfer trough: - (Euro-)bureaucrats / Technocrats create joined values and loyalties → because of continued socialization (adoption of values/ beliefs) over the years → which stimulates further integration. - Shift of political debate from national capitals to Brussels. → Formation of supranational interest groups. (For instance: Greenpeace & Amnesty) 3.Permissive Consensus to Constraining Dissensus: Initially, public support enabled elites to drive integration, believing decisions benefited citizens and the economy (permissive). Today, public skepticism of the elite and Brussel limits further integration (constraining). Predictions of Neo-functionalism Economic integration benefits all member states → Economies of scale. It leads to political integration via elite socialization & loyalty shifts, emergence of supranational interest groups (pan-European trade unions, NGOs) and step-by-step gradual integration (spillover). Europeanization Constructivist view: norms, values & interests evolve under specific conditions. EU policy-making occurs through: - Bottom-up Uploading (policy-shaping): Member states shape EU rules based on their preferences ("goodness of fit"). (EU adapted Denmark’s environmental policies) - Top-down Downloading (policy-taking): EU rules reshape domestic politics, empowering specific groups and creating a "Brusselisation" effect. (If Macedoni. decided to join they need to ‘download’ EU policy) Norm internalization: E.g. safeguarding the environment in industrial legislation, respecting human rights to become members. ⇒ Brusselisation/ EU-ization. (Adopting standards from the EU to domestic). De-Europeanisation: Reversal of EU norms, as seen in democratic backsliding (e.g., Hungary or Brexit). → De-coupling from EU or EU norms after having acquired them. Multi-level Governance Governance approaches to study the EU in a ‘third way’ manner separate from international and domestic politics, but as a sui generis entity. It operates as a unique governance system involving actors at multiple levels: - EU/Brussels level - Nation state (member states) level - Sub-national/regional/local level → Subsidiarity principles: Decisions should be made at the level closest to citizens.