Far from displaying a uniform pattern, European integration varies significantly across policy areas and individual countries. Why do some member states choose to opt out of specific EU policies? Why are some policies deeply integrated whereas others remain intergovernmental? In this updated second edition, the authors introduce the most important theoretical approaches to European integration and apply these to the trajectories of key EU policy areas. Arguing that no single theory offers a completely convincing explanation of integration and differentiation in the EU, this thought-provoking book provides a new synthesis of integration theory and an original way of thinking about what the EU is and how it works.
Author(s): Dirk Leuffen
Series: European Union Politics
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2021
Language: English
Pages: 468
City: Cham
Preface to the 2nd edition
Contents
Abbreviations
Country Codes for Figure 2.3
List of Figures
List of Tables
List of Boxes
1 Introduction
A Story of Integration—and Differentiation
Differentiated Integration in EU Studies
The How and Why of Differentiated Integration: A Preview
Structure of the Book
References
2 The European Union as a System of Differentiated Integration
Between International Organization and State
Membership
Delimitation
Authority
Governance Capacity
Legitimacy
Differentiated Integration
Measuring Differentiated Integration
Mapping Differentiated Integration
Differentiation: A Persistent Feature of European Integration
References
Part I Theory
3 Intergovernmentalism
From Realist to Liberal Intergovernmentalism
Rationalist Institutionalism
General Assumptions: International Interdependence and Rational Choice
Explanatory Theories: The Functional Theory of Institutions, Endogenous Trade Theory, Bargaining Theory, and Club Theory
Intergovernmentalism and European Integration
National Preferences
Interstate Bargaining
Institutional Choice
General Hypotheses
Intergovernmentalism and Differentiated Integration
Realist Intergovernmentalism: Autonomy-Driven Differentiated Integration
Liberal Intergovernmentalism: Heterogeneity of Interdependence, Interests, and Capacities
The Supply Side of Differentiated Integration: Size, Externalities and Bargaining Power
Conjectures
Self-Test and Discussion Questions
Further Reading
References
4 Supranationalism
General Assumptions: Boundedly Rational Actors in a Path-Dependent Process of Institutionalization
Explaining the Dynamics of Integration
Supranationalism and European Integration
Spillover
The Constitutionalization of the Treaties
European Integration and Path Dependence
General Hypotheses
Supranationalism and Differentiated Integration
Intensity of Transnational Exchange
Capacity and Preferences of Supranational actors
Conjectures
Self-Test and Discussion Questions
Further Reading
References
5 Constructivism
General Assumptions: Ideas and Appropriateness
Explanatory Theories: Community Institutions, Argumentation, and Socialization
Constructivism and European Integration
Ideas and Integration Preferences
Negotiations in a Community Environment
Integration and Socialization
General Hypotheses
Constructivism and Differentiated Integration
Conditions
Conjectures
Self-Test and Discussion Questions
Further Reading
References
6 Postfunctionalism
Multi-Level Governance and the Democratic Politics of Regional Integration
Multi-Level Governance
Democratic Mass Politics
Postfunctionalism and European integration
Integration Progress
Cleavage Transformation and Party Competition
Identity Politics
Negotiations in the Shadow of National Democratic Politics
General Hypotheses
Postfunctionalism and Differentiated Integration
Conjectures
Self-Test and Discussion Questions
Further Reading
References
Part II Policies
7 The Single Market
The Development of the Single Market
The Treaties of Rome
The Single European Act
After the SEA
Horizontal Integration
Conclusion of the Historical Overview
Intergovernmentalism
The Beginnings of Integration: Post-World War II Europe, Economic Interdependence
Integrative Dynamics: Growing Interdependence and Preference Convergence Before the SEA
(Differentiated) Horizontal Integration
Supranationalism
The Beginnings of Integration: Transnational Exchanges and the EEC Treaty
Explaining the Single Market Programme: Transnational Exchanges, Institutionalization, and Spillover
Horizontal Integration and Differentiation
Constructivism
The Beginnings of Integration: Ideas Matter
Integrative Dynamics: Shared Understandings of Common Challenges
(Differentiated) Horizontal Integration: Constructivism
Postfunctionalism
Postfunctionalism and the Single Market
Conclusion
Self-Test and Discussion Questions
Further Reading
References
8 Economic and Monetary Union
The Development of Monetary and Fiscal Integration
The Bretton Woods system
The Snake and the European Monetary System
Economic and Monetary Union
The Eurozone Crisis and the Reform of EMU
Conclusion
Intergovernmentalism
Realist Intergovernmentalism: Monetary Integration to Increase State Autonomy?
Liberal Intergovernmentalism: Interdependence, Preference Convergence, and Credible Commitments
Differentiated Horizontal Integration
Differentiated Vertical Integration
Integration in the Eurozone Crisis
Supranationalism
EMU: Spillover and Transnational Networks
Horizontal and Vertical Differentiation
From Differentiation to Uniformity?
Transnational Interdependence and Supranational Capacity in the Eurozone Crisis
Constructivism
EMU: Macroeconomic Policy Consensus
Differentiated Integration
Vertical Integration in the Eurozone Crisis: Socialization and Learning?
Postfunctionalism
Integration and Differentiation in Macroeconomic Policies
Postfunctionalism and Integration in the Eurozone Crisis
Conclusion
Self-Test and Discussion Questions
Further Reading
References
9 Security and Defence
The Development of Security and Defence Policy in the EU
A Bold Move: The Pleven Plan and the EDC
De Gaulle’s ‘certaine Idée’ and the Fouchet Plans
Informal Intergovernmental Coordination: The EPC
Picking up Speed: Maastricht, Amsterdam, and the CFSP
Change of Tide: St Malo, ESDP, and CSDP
The 2010s: Times of External and Internal Turbulence
Conclusion
Explaining the European Defence Community and Its Failure
Intergovernmentalism
Supranationalism
Constructivism
Postfunctionalism
The Return of Defence Policy
Intergovernmentalism
Supranationalism
Constructivism
Postfunctionalism
Conclusion
Self-Test and Discussion Questions
Further Reading
References
10 The Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
The Development of the Area of Freedom, Security, and Justice
Early Intergovernmental Beginnings
Integration of Justice and Home Affairs into the EU: Maastricht and Beyond
The Refugee Crisis as a Turning Point
Horizontal Integration
Conclusion
Intergovernmentalism
Formation and Development of the AFSJ: Sovereignty, Interdependence, Member State Preferences, and Bargaining
Differentiated Horizontal Integration
Supranationalism
Formation and Development of the AFSJ: Transnational Networks and Spillover
Horizontal and Vertical Differentiation
From Differentiation to Uniformity?
Constructivism
Formation and Development of the AFSJ: Shared Ideas and Inclusive Identities
Differentiated Horizontal Integration
Postfunctionalism
Conclusion
Self-Test and Discussion Questions
Further Reading
References
11 Conclusion: Integration and Differentiation in the European Union
Differentiated Integration in the European Union
Evaluating the Theories
Assumptions and Expectations
Vertical Integration and Differentiation
Horizontal Integration and Differentiation
A Synthetic Framework
Common Ground
Scope Conditions
Summary
Where Do We Go from Here?
References
References
Index
