European Integration Theories PDF

European Integration Theories Prof. dr. Kolja Raube European Integration, Module 4 Winter 2023, Session 1 European Integration Theory • European integration theories (and concepts) aim to explain European integration: • due to certain events and • due to certain structures • due to certain actor...

European Integration Theories Prof. dr. Kolja Raube European Integration, Module 4 Winter 2023, Session 1 European Integration Theory • European integration theories (and concepts) aim to explain European integration: • due to certain events and • due to certain structures • due to certain actors • due to events, structures and actors over time • Different scopes: • Micro-theories/-concepts • Macro-theories 2 Faculteit, departement, dienst … European Integration Theory • Why Theory? Why theories of European integration? • “Good theories select out certain factors as the most important or relevant if one is interested in providing an explanation of an event.” (Stoker in Rosamond 2000, p. 4) ➔Theories can ‘structure’ our obervations (Ibid.) ➔We all can be driven by theoretical perspectives (Ibid.) ➔What we think, what others write about EI is always “grounded in a particular set of assumptions about the way in which the world operates.” (Rosamond 200, p.5) 3 Faculteit, departement, dienst … European Integration Theory • Challenge that events are multidimensional • Which dimension would a theory focus on? • Which factor would a theory see as influential on the outcome of an event? • Example: Key-’history-making’ events and treaty-changes: how important are they really and what explains treaty-changes? • Key components of theorizing: onthology (image of the reality) and epistomology (gathering knowledge) 4 Faculteit, departement, dienst … European Integration Theory • How to critisice or evaluate a theory? (According to Burchill 1996 in Rosamond, 2000, p.9) ➔Understanding of a process correct (description)? ➔Can the theory explain the process/event (explanatory power)? ➔Can, by using the understanding and explanation of a theory, we predict forthcoming events (prediciting)? ➔Is the theory consistent and coherent (is it able not to contradict itself)? ➔What can we explain witht the theory (“A lot”? Less? – scope of the theory)? ➔How much is the theory able to revise itself (critically re-assessment of its assumption)? 5 Faculteit, departement, dienst … European Integration Theory • Integration is the coming together of separated parts: however, the coming together does not determine the number of parts nor the degree to which these parts will be interwoven, rather: the degree of integration can vary • Theory of EU integration trying to explain the factors that lead to European integration and decision-making. The theoretical scope may vary. European Integration Theory • But what does European Integration entail? • Transformation of the nation-state after the 2nd world war • Cooperation of nation-states (‘Rescue of the nation-state’) after the 2nd World War • Making of a new political system above the nation-state • Is European Integration about politics or economics, or even law? • How much does European Integration need to take developments beyond politics, economics and law into account? • How much is European Integration comparable (governance, policy-making regional integration)? 7 Faculteit, departement, dienst … European Integration Theory • Beyond theories….concepts and framework • While theories try to develop “argument[s] about causality, concepts and frameworks offer ideas for interpreting social facts.” (Saurugger 2014, p.6) ➔Interpreting social phenomena ➔Less explanatory power (compared to theories) ➔But: offer important to contextualize and interprete European Integration 8 Faculteit, departement, dienst … European Integration Theory • Integration of the European Union can be looked at: • Through a perspective of international relations • Through a perspective of constitutional state-building • Through a perspective of (multi-)level governance and policy-making European Integration Theory 10 European Integration Theory International Relations ―Realism ―Liberal theories of international relations ―Constructivism 11 European Integration Theory European Integration Theory • Before we delve into the theories…. …we need to reflect that theorizing European Integration may not be not possible without the “idea of Europe” • Beyond ‘European order’ after Westphalia • Westphalian Treaties (1648): “The peace legitimized the ideas of sovereignty and dynastic autonomy…. It created a framework that would sustain the political fragmentation of Europe.” (Holsti 1999, 39) • Principles of sovereignty, non-intervention and equality of states • ‘…did not grasp that true peace requires structural organized cooperation” (Holsti 1999, p.40) 13 Bachelor Of European Studies European Integration Theory • So how to achieve peace in Europe? • The ‘grand design’ (1632, Duke of Sully): European federation of states to overcome religious wars in Europe under the umbrella of an ‘international organization’ to unite all European by means of an inseperable band (Niess 2001, p.13) • Abbé Castel de Saint-Pierre (1713): Projet pour rendre la Paix perpétuelle en Europe (‘Project for Bringing about Perpetual Peace in Europe’) – 24 volumes • Organized community of laws • Formal Union of States • Principles of enlightment informed Abbé Saint Pierre: Optimism and pursuit of good a matter of right reasoning, spreading knowledge and acting rightly (See Carr 2001, pp. 24-25) ➔ Leaders would have no chance but to adopt his plan • “Very practical – to succeed it only needs the support of Europe and some other small issues.” (Friedrich II of Prussia, in Niess 2001, p.14) 14 Bachelor of European Studies European Integration Theory • Jean Jacques Rousseau: extract of the ‘paix perpétuelle’ (1756) • Interdependent influences of inner-nation-state authority and supranational peace order • Towards a European federation (McCormick 2017, 27) 15 Bachelor of European Studies European Integration Theory • Immanuel Kant: ‘Zum ewigen Frieden’/ ‘Perpetual Peace’ (1795) • Inspired by Saint-Pierre and Rousseau • Towards a republican federalism of free sates Bachelor of European Studies 16 European Integration Theory 17 European Integration Theory • “International organizations, governed by experts, are needed to guarantee peace. National elites are too interested in re-election to make efficient and good decisions.” (Saurugger 2014, p.17) • Published 1943 • What are the key functions that the international system is supposed to deliver • Not politics, technocracy Bachelor of European Studies 18 European Integration Theory • Need for international and transnational organizations in the absence of states and international organizations 19 Bachelor of European Studies European Integration Theory • “Functionalist like Mitrany foresaw a proliferation of flexible task-oriented international organizations as the means to address the priorities dicatetd by human need.” (Rosamond 2000, p.35) ➔ EU as a working peace system? M. Eilstrup-Sangiovanni (2020), Death of international organizations. ➔ Integration by function The organizational ecology of intergovernmental organizations, 1815– rather than politics? 2015, The Review of International Organizations (2020) 15:339–370. 20 Bachelor of European Studies European Integration Theory European Integration Theory • “The theory or advocacy of federal principles for dividing powers between member units and common institutions.” (Saurugger 2014, p.17) Confederalism Federalism See also McCormick 2017, p.19 22 Bachelor of European Studies European Integration Theory • “Federalism is a broad church” (Rosamond 2000, p.24) • Federalism as (a) constitutional form and (b) constitutional reality • “Big Bang” (form) ➔ Function follows form • “The expectation of a federal state-like entity as the end point of the federalist project suggests that federal writers see statehood as either a desirable or inevitable mode of governance. “(See Rosamond 2000, p.26, following Pentland). 23 Bachelor of European Studies European Integration Theory • Federalism as a process (Friedrich 1968, in Rosamond 200, 28) • Continuum between central, decentral and balanced forms of federalism, which evolve over time • Comparative federalism: EU, US, Canada, etc. Central 24 Centripetral forces Decentral Centrifugal forces Bachelor of European Studies European Integration Theory • Does the federalist idea that a European integration process should be settled on fixed constitutional norms which divide authority between MS and the EU make sense? • Can we confirm that the EU is a federal organization and that enlargement will always push the EU to be federal? • Is federalism a mere ideology of a European superstate? Cartoon by the ‘Economist’ 25 European Integration Theory 26 European Integration Theory • “Communication is the key variable determining the social engagement in communities (security communities).” (Saurugger 2014, p.17) • Under which conditions form people security communities and diminish the prospect of war • Security communities were groups of people that had become ‘integrated’. (Rosamond 2000, p.43) • Pluralist • Amalgamated 27 Bachelor of European Studies European Integration Theory • Variety of different historical cases? How applicable are they? • Unclaritiy how processes of transnational transactionalism translated into communitybuilding • Would incrase of communication really lead to more a mind-shift and more integration? Bachelor of European Studies 28 European Integration Theory • Why do we need theories of European Integration? • Which of the three “older” traditions do you find interesting and useful? • Which examples come to mind where these theories can/ could be useful to explain specific events/social phenomena around European integration? 29 Bachelor of European Studies European Integration Theory - Literature • Carr, E.H. (1964), The Twenty Years’ Crisis, 1919-1939 – An Introduction to the Study of International Relations. Perenial. • Holsti, K. J (1991), Peace and War: Armed Conflicts and International Order 1648-1989. Cambridge University Press. • McCormick, J. (2017), Understanding the European Union – A concise introduction. Palgrave. • Niess, F. (2001), Die Europäische Idee. Suhrkamp. • Rosamond, B. (2000) , Theories of European Integration. Palgrave. • Saurugger, S. (2014), Theoretical Approaches to European Integration. Palgrave. 30 Bachelor of European Studies