(I’ve based this summary on a paper presentated at EUSA 8th Biennial International Conference, march 27-29 2003, as I was not able to have access the book. Though the actual coverage of the reading may be different, I presume that main concepts have been faithfully reflected.)
Summary:
In this book, Diez and Wiener sought to
1) introduce integration theory and different ways one can study European integration by using theoretical perspectives to complement empirical/comparative approaches.
2) provide an account for the various attempts at understanding integration, with a mosaic framework, so as to enable future scholars to critic and construct new approaches to understanding integration
(The book does not cover transactionalism and critical theory)
What is integration theory?
Integration:
- A broad approach
Neo-functionalism:
Ernst Haas: “whereby political actors in several, distinct national settings are persuaded to shift their loyalties, expectations and political activities toward a new centre, whose institutions process or demand jurisdiction over the pre-existing national states.”- Social process: “shift in loyalties”
- Political process: “negotiation and decision-making about the construction of new political institutions above the participating member states with a direct say in at least a part of the member states’ affairs”
- A narrow approach
Intergovernmentalism:
Focus on political process; political integration
[Both ways (neo-functionalist & intergovernmentalist) focused on ‘process’ than the end condition.]
Theory:
- Narrowly defined:
- King, Keohane and Verba, 1994; Przeworski and Teune, 1982:
“Causal argument of universal, transhistorical (transcend historical boundary; eternal) validity and nomothetic (the study and discovery of general scientific laws) quality, which can be tested through the falsification of a series of hypotheses.”
- King, Keohane and Verba, 1994; Przeworski and Teune, 1982:
- Broadly defined:
- Context specific approach – Ex: used to detect application and departure of theories by policies.
- “Explain outcomes, behaviour, or decision-making rationales… criticise general trends on the basis of abstract consideration… some fit particular developments into a larger scheme, others seek to provide normative guidance.”
(in this book, ‘integration theory’=field, and ‘theoretical approaches’=individual ways to deal with integration)
Why study integration theory?
Understand EU formal institutions
- Conventional approach:
- Empirical study: organisational competences, role and functions, jurisdictions, responsibilities, capabilities, limitation, power
- Integrational theory:
- Normative basis of “democratic reform and legitimacy” to understand the form and scope of these institutions over the nation state.
- “highlight and problematise concerns and assumption” that are unrepresented by empirical approaches, and demonstrate the furthest extent, or limitations, of approaches to integration.
Ex:
- Nature of foreign policy making
- Legitimacy
- Coerciveness
- Jurisdiction
- Citizenship
- Top-down vs Bottom-up
- Limitations to and problems of either approach
Major theoritical debates:
- Role of state interest in formation of EU
- Economic vs security interest
- Neo-functionalist’s normative ideas from interwar functionalism
- Accounting for lack of development in 70s
- Legal interdependency
- Accounting for revival in 80s
- Governmental approach
- Roles of each institution
Integration Theory: A broad overview
Phases of European integration theory
3 phases suggested by Diez and Wiener:
| Phase | When? | Significance | Main themes |
| Explaining Integration | 1960s onwards
(from Treaty of Rome till 1980s) |
Success at early integration was against realist assumptions, and threaten concept of sovereign nation-states | Explaining integration outcomes (rationalism) 1) Neo-functionalism: Spillover of shared policy initiative in ‘low politics area’ (functional and eventuall political spill over) 2) Intergovernmentalism: “rational decision-making within historical context” that was begun and carried out between governmentsCauses of integration |
| Analysing Governance
(Liberal intergovernmentalism and neo-neofunctionalism) |
1980s onwards | Shift towards comparative politics
Accepting the complex institutions as an entity |
What is EU’s political system? 1) Multilevel:Multi-perspectival polity 2) Net work governance: policy network Describing political processes within EU: “Europeanisation” of “governance rules, institutions and practices across the EU” – legitimacy, democracy, transparency…How does EU regulatory policy work? |
| Constructing EU | 1990s onwards | Rise of Social constructivism, post structuralism, critical theories, feminist theories
Masstricht and Amsterdam Treaties – enlargement and constitutional revision |
How does social and political consequences account for integration?
Conceptualising integration and governance |
(3 phases precede proto-integration – Mitrany and interwar era)
Studying integration theory
Contexts of theoretical development
Different approaches that can be taken:
- Chronological
- Historical-sociological approach: impacts of legacies and paradigms
- Socio-political: Changes in political climate, influence by research sponsors, and national biases.
- Theoretical debates
- Paradigmatical differences
- Theoretical movements
- Influences from other fields of social sciences
- Runs parallel to International Relations and Legal studies (functionalism + social-scientific turn = Neofunctionalism)
- Issues based
Competing or complementary approaches?
Approaching a unification of theories or mutually exclusive theories?
- Importance of falsification: finding cases that support or deny particular hypothesis/theories
- Finding the limits to their scope/claim
- Limited enterprise
- Accounting for different meanings of integration – basis of study
The functions of theory
Purpose of theory
- Explanation or understanding
- Despite epistemological and methodological differences in different approaches
- Common purpose of accounting for outcome
- Description and analysis
- development of defintions and concepts
- Ex: first to second phase: reflected the acceptance of EU as an entity
- Critique and normative intervention
- Questioning what was given
- Philosophical exploration of alternatives
- Predicting problems
(different purposes: different criteria of evaluation = cannot meaningfully compare validity between them)
The areas of theory
Object of approaches
- Polity: Institutional framework
- Political community
- Institutions
- Alternatives
- Normative consideration (ex: legitimacy)
- Policy: Content and style
- Measures to address probems
- Instruments and general approaches
- Politics: Decision-making
- What political actors are subjected to
- Means of bargaining and compromising
- Power
- Technocratic governance vs participatory governance
- Effect of interest groups on policy-making process
- Systematic disadvantages in the dominant political style
The mosaic of integration theory
| Polity | Policy | Politics | |
| Explanatory/ Understanding | |||
| Analytical/ Descriptive | |||
| Critical/ Normative |
(Approaches can occupy more than 1 box, allowing us to form fruitful criticisms)
deskbounded 