VL IB: European Policy Making

Explaining European Integration

What are Intergovernmentalisms theoretical assumptions?

  • Limited role for supranational institutions
  • Integration as a zero-sum game
  • Integration is not an automatic process
  • Integration only possible where states' national interests coincide
  • States guard their sovereignty
    • Integration/Cooperation leads to pooling or sharing of sovereignty but not to transfer of sovereignty
    • Authority delegated to supranational institutions, controlled by MS
  • Integration may be possible in "low politics" but difficult in "high politics"
  • Integration less seen as a process
  • European integration not isolated from wider international context

Diskussion