Document Type

Project

Publication Date

Spring 2009

Keywords

European Union, Integration theories, Intergovernmentalism

Abstract

The European Union is a political body like no other. It has maintained its ability to balance a fine line between supranational organization and member state sovereignty. Throughout its conception and subsequent progress, many theorists have attempted to tackle the complexity of the Union’s integration. Some focus on the Union’s need to widen its membership to include more states, while others explain the necessity to deepen the bonds between existing members. In this thesis I will attempt to answer the question of which integration theories have impacted the European Union most drastically to this point and which theories will be most crucial to explaining the role the Union will adopt in the next decade. Through a vetting of these ideas, it is apparent that while no one theory wholly encapsulates the entire picture, Intergovemmentalism has played the largest role pertaining to integration to this point, however, due to the current political and economic climates. Liberal Intergovemmentalism, supported by less influential theories, will become the most dominant theory to cope with increasing demand for unified actions and decisions.

Department

Political Science

Subjects - Names (LCNAF)

European Union--Forecasting

Geographic Coverage

European Union countries--Economic integration--Political aspects

Genre/Form

student projects; term papers

Type

Text

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.

Rights Statement

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

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