This is where you can find various integration theories that have been put forward since the creation of the European Union. Here you can find the origins of each theory, the main proponents of these theories, the theory itself and also the impact that each theory has had, followed by a brief critique of that theory. These theories are traditionally grouped under the three headings ‘Explaining integration’ ‘Analysing governance’ and ‘Constructing the EU’ (Wiener and Diez 2009, p. 7). This trichotomy has been developed with regard to the impact each theory has had.
The theories that seek to answer questions such as ‘How can integration outcomes be explained? Why does European integration take place?' Are grouped under 'Explaining European Integration' these theories are:
‘Analysing governance’ is the second phase of European integration, a phase that considerably broadened the scope of theoretical reflection on European integration, as well as empirical research. It also introduced a greater degree of interdisciplinarity. With this phase comparative and institutionalist approaches were brought to the forefront of integration theory - ultimately questions were asked that sought to ‘explore the nature of the beast’ (Kappen 1996 as cited in Wiener and Diez 2009:11).
The rise of a variety of critical and constructivist approaches characterised the 1980s and 1990s with scholars questioning both the epistemological assumptions on which traditional approaches had been built as well as the ontological ones. This return of IR theory, but of a different kind marks the third phase of integration theory ‘Constructing the EU’; this is where Discursive Approaches, and Gender Perspectives can be found.
The final section of this part of the wiki looks at the ways in which law has aided integration.
Integration Through Law
Bibliography
- Wiener, A and Diez, T. (eds.) (2009), European Integration Theory. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
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