Defining European Integration Week 2 9 October 2007

How can we characterise the EU? What forces drive integration? Session Outline Hour 1 Tutor - Comments on theory and the utility of theory How can we characterise the EU? What forces drive integration? Group work, presentation of ideas and discussion Coffee!

Session Outline Summary Hour 2 Does European integration involve a loss of national sovereignty? Can it be seen as a form of regionalism or globalisation? Discussion Summary

Theory and European Integration Why theorize? What value does it bring to what we already know? Provides a way of ordering the confusion of everyday events It is practical and reflects what we actually do on a daily basis It is useful and separates ‘academic’ work from ‘journalistic’ work

Theory and European Integration What is theory? Diez and Weiner (2004; 3) Narrow – Causal argument, tested through falsification of a series of hypothesis Broad (abstract) – Abstract reflection, but context specific. More reflective in terms of integration process.

Theory and European Integration What is the purpose of theory? Theories serve different purposes Explain, predict, provide understanding, normative guidance Why do we need integration theory? Narrow (formal )sense Broader (informal and normative) sense

How can we characterise the EU? Explain the main features of each state form and what you think is its relevance to understanding the EU. What are their main strengths/limitations? Group1 - Westphalian state Group2 - Regulatory State Group 3 - Post-modern State

What forces drive European integration? What is ‘integration’? Brainstorm – Your opinions on the main forces that drive integration (how can we think about integration?)

Integration and National Sovereignty Does the emergence of European authority structures necessarily come at the expense of national ones?

Integration as Regionalism and Globalisation What is the relationship between European integration, regionalism and globalisation?