Theorising European integration

Book abstract:

This is the latest in the series of 'Sage Politics Texts' which examine political issues around the world. This publication focuses on the evolution of the European Union and the relating theories which have been developed to explain it. After nearly five decades of theorising about European integration, international scholarship is still searching for a reliable theory of what exactly the EU is or may come to resemble in the future. This book examines the key contributions to the theoretical study of European integration as well as advancing a particular conception of the European which may be referred to as 'confederal consociation'.

The book is divided into four parts, each concerned with a particular aspect of the theoretical study of European integration. Part One presents the case for theorising, arguing that such a process can help to develop a better understanding of complex social and political phenomena. In addition, it identifies the new challenges facing EU scholars in their attempts to theorise about the unique process of European polity-formation.

The specific integration theories that have been used to explain the post war European order are examined in part two of the book. Chapter 2 focuses on the formative theories such as functionalism, federalism, neofunctionalism and transactionalism while chapter three explores the 'second wave' of European theories such as confederalism, international regimes, interdependence and concordance systems.

Part three examines the more recent trends in European integration theory. Chapter four focuses on the influence of treaty reform in the mid-1980s and early 1990s that led to the emergence of a new, multi-level governance system. Such developments support the move in paradigm over the last decade away from policy towards polity. Chapter five focuses on advancing the concept of the EU as a confederal consociation in respect of the pattern of relations between state and regional organisations.

The focus in chapter six moves away from theory onto metatheory, claiming that a certain type of meta-analysis needs to be applied to the theoretical study of the European polity with questions asking 'who is governed?' instead of 'who governs and how?'

This book will be valued by students of European politics and international relations, offering a thorough and up-to-date analysis of the key theories of European integration over the last five decades.

Dimitris Chryssochoou is Reader in European integration at the University of Exeter.