The choice for EU theorists: Establishing a common framework for analysis

European Journal of Political Research - Tập 39 - Trang 289-318 - 2001
John Peterson1
1Department of Politics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland

Tóm tắt

European Union (EU) studies have entered a highly contentious and, arguably, creative phase. A range of theoretical perspectives, seemingly quite highly differentiated from one another, now compete for influence and ‘space’. However, the questions remain: is EU studies developing theories which are truly competing theories? Or is it developing theories that do not compete so much as they aim to explain distinctly different pieces of the EU puzzle? This paper responds directly to these two questions, while reviewing recent literature on EU governance. It argues, first, that we lack theories of EU governance that are true rivals; and, second, that leading models explain different outcomes at different levels in a multi-level system of governance. The result is somewhat phoney debates between compatible theories masquerading as rivals, and between ‘comparative politics’ and ‘international relations’ approaches. Above all, perhaps, we find middle range theories posing as general or ‘meta-theories’. In the absence of a plausible general theory of EU governance, theorists must choose precisely which type of outcome theywish to explain.

Tài liệu tham khảo

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