Theories of European Union Integration

Theories of European Integration

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Introduction

Political integration is a process of where states in various unique national settings shift their loyalties , political activities and expectations toward a new center whose organizations exact jurisdiction over the already existing countries . This results in a new political community over the pre-existing communities . Debates touching on the design of institutions of a political nature have amazing consequences for policy-makers . Decisions to change institutions have enduring impacts , as they are difficult to alter . Losing on a

crucial issue of institutional design is likely to disadvantage a member during negotiations for many future generations . The European Union (EU ) has historically made key decisions at the intergovernmental conferences (IGCs ) since its inception in Rome . Political scientists have advanced several theories to attempt to explain the power available to the various actors in the EU . This article interrogates the intergovernmental , neo-functional and institutional theories , their implications on the integration process , and the interactions among the state and supranational actors . The article further investigates the shortcomings of these theories in their attempts of explaining the integration (Haas , 1958

The intergovernmental theories underpin the realist model of international politics . These theories regard international relations as based on power politics and that nation-states are the key actors Political realism does not however , assume that the current situation under which foreign policy operates , with their utter instability and the ever-present risk of war cannot be altered . The realist position does not militate against assuming that larger units...