Samenvatting European Governance
PART 1: EUROPEAN INTEGRATION
Les 1: Theories & Political system of the European Union
THEORIES OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION
= explanation on why states decided to transfer more and more authority to the European level and
to supranational institutions at that level
1) Realism
= pessimistic view on politics
- Core actors in international relations = states (no “world government”)
- Main motivation of states is ensure survival, security, sovereignty
o Core concept = power
- World is defined by anarchy international relations are chaotic
o States are unitary actors that act rationally out of self-interest
Any state can do anything to another state
Zero-sum game: if someone wins, there will lose another state
2) Liberalism
- International relations is more than survival, more than power, collaboration is possible
o States can go beyond self-interest, collaboration can lead to positive-sum games
bv. Peace through trade
- Other actors in addition to states = international organizations (that promote further
collaboration and prevent freeriding)
- Core concept = values (freedom, democracy, human rights)
3) Functionalism
= idealistic interpretation of liberalism during interwar period
- Nationalism is a source of conflict
- Peace through practical collaboration on common interest
o Collaboration on mutual dependence and shared benefits
o Economic ties > political/ideological ties
No aim for political integration/union
o International organizations created that fulfill specific tasks
Bv. UPU (postoffice), WTO (trade)
- Integration happens gradually and almost unnoticed without major political controversial
decisions and can encourage collaboration in other fields
, 4) Neofunctionalism
= part of the liberalism of the 1960’s, build on functionalism
- Integration is a self-reinforcing process that becomes increasingly political.
o Deterministic process: Once integration starts, spill-over makes deeper and more
political integration inevitable, especially in the EU.
o Autonomous process: It has got a nature on its own, it is not a result of deliberate
strategies of member states, not intentional.
o It was developed for explaining European integration but not the stagnation
- Actors:
o International organizations
o EU institutions
o Companies & Trade unions
o Political parties
- Spill-over effect
o Integration in one area creates pressure to integrate in other areas
o Integration cannot stop at one sector
o Types of spill-over effect
Functional spill-over: integration in one sector creates functional
pressures/practical needs to other levels
bv. Single Market → need for common transport, competition, and
social policies
Political spill-over: supranational institutions push for more integration
bv. European Commission
Motivated themselves because more integration gives them more
influence or power
Technical spill-over: common rules are needed to ensure and create a level-
playing field among countries
bv. Different minimum wages creates unfair competition in certain
countries incentive for European min wage
Geographical spill-over
Integration expands to new member states
Bv. EU enlargement spreads integration beyond the original
members, expanded to other countries
, 5) Intergovernmentalism
= part of realism
- The Member States themselves retain full control over the integration process
- European integration happen through negotiations between national governments.
o Does not happen automatically or through supranational institutions
o Zero-sum game: the outcome is the result of power and compromise, not
automatically progress, real negotiations happen
o States prefer self-control over the risk of handing over crucial decisions
Freedom/diversity > level playing field/harmonization
- European integration = Two level game with 3 stages
o National level: National preferences and interests in the MS determined by the
domestic/internal politics of the state
Role of pressure groups within each nation
o EU- level: Interstate negotiations
Realization of integration depends on the relative power of the member
states
Stronger states got more what they wanted, more relative power
o Institutionalization
EU institutions do not have their own agenda, they are just here for
Implementation of deals
Enforce and safeguard deals
Solve coordination problems
THEORIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
= functioning of the European union as it
What is the European Union?
1) International organization
YES
- Based on member states, which are nation states
- Institutional framework (they can bind states en citizens)
o Based on treaty
- Membership is voluntary (no army to prevent)
- Decision making, strive for consensus
NO
- Transfer of sovereignty to EU
- Autonomy and decision making power of EU actors
- Scope of policy depends day to day (<>specific)
PART 1: EUROPEAN INTEGRATION
Les 1: Theories & Political system of the European Union
THEORIES OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION
= explanation on why states decided to transfer more and more authority to the European level and
to supranational institutions at that level
1) Realism
= pessimistic view on politics
- Core actors in international relations = states (no “world government”)
- Main motivation of states is ensure survival, security, sovereignty
o Core concept = power
- World is defined by anarchy international relations are chaotic
o States are unitary actors that act rationally out of self-interest
Any state can do anything to another state
Zero-sum game: if someone wins, there will lose another state
2) Liberalism
- International relations is more than survival, more than power, collaboration is possible
o States can go beyond self-interest, collaboration can lead to positive-sum games
bv. Peace through trade
- Other actors in addition to states = international organizations (that promote further
collaboration and prevent freeriding)
- Core concept = values (freedom, democracy, human rights)
3) Functionalism
= idealistic interpretation of liberalism during interwar period
- Nationalism is a source of conflict
- Peace through practical collaboration on common interest
o Collaboration on mutual dependence and shared benefits
o Economic ties > political/ideological ties
No aim for political integration/union
o International organizations created that fulfill specific tasks
Bv. UPU (postoffice), WTO (trade)
- Integration happens gradually and almost unnoticed without major political controversial
decisions and can encourage collaboration in other fields
, 4) Neofunctionalism
= part of the liberalism of the 1960’s, build on functionalism
- Integration is a self-reinforcing process that becomes increasingly political.
o Deterministic process: Once integration starts, spill-over makes deeper and more
political integration inevitable, especially in the EU.
o Autonomous process: It has got a nature on its own, it is not a result of deliberate
strategies of member states, not intentional.
o It was developed for explaining European integration but not the stagnation
- Actors:
o International organizations
o EU institutions
o Companies & Trade unions
o Political parties
- Spill-over effect
o Integration in one area creates pressure to integrate in other areas
o Integration cannot stop at one sector
o Types of spill-over effect
Functional spill-over: integration in one sector creates functional
pressures/practical needs to other levels
bv. Single Market → need for common transport, competition, and
social policies
Political spill-over: supranational institutions push for more integration
bv. European Commission
Motivated themselves because more integration gives them more
influence or power
Technical spill-over: common rules are needed to ensure and create a level-
playing field among countries
bv. Different minimum wages creates unfair competition in certain
countries incentive for European min wage
Geographical spill-over
Integration expands to new member states
Bv. EU enlargement spreads integration beyond the original
members, expanded to other countries
, 5) Intergovernmentalism
= part of realism
- The Member States themselves retain full control over the integration process
- European integration happen through negotiations between national governments.
o Does not happen automatically or through supranational institutions
o Zero-sum game: the outcome is the result of power and compromise, not
automatically progress, real negotiations happen
o States prefer self-control over the risk of handing over crucial decisions
Freedom/diversity > level playing field/harmonization
- European integration = Two level game with 3 stages
o National level: National preferences and interests in the MS determined by the
domestic/internal politics of the state
Role of pressure groups within each nation
o EU- level: Interstate negotiations
Realization of integration depends on the relative power of the member
states
Stronger states got more what they wanted, more relative power
o Institutionalization
EU institutions do not have their own agenda, they are just here for
Implementation of deals
Enforce and safeguard deals
Solve coordination problems
THEORIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
= functioning of the European union as it
What is the European Union?
1) International organization
YES
- Based on member states, which are nation states
- Institutional framework (they can bind states en citizens)
o Based on treaty
- Membership is voluntary (no army to prevent)
- Decision making, strive for consensus
NO
- Transfer of sovereignty to EU
- Autonomy and decision making power of EU actors
- Scope of policy depends day to day (<>specific)
