Integration and Differentiation in the European Union

Far from displaying a uniform pattern, European integration varies significantly across policy areas and individual countries. Why do some member states choose to opt out of specific EU policies? Why are some policies deeply integrated whereas others remain intergovernmental? In this updated second edition, the authors introduce the most important theoretical approaches to European integration and apply these to the trajectories of key EU policy areas. Arguing that no single theory offers a completely convincing explanation of integration and differentiation in the EU, this thought-provoking book provides a new synthesis of integration theory and an original way of thinking about what the EU is and how it works.

Presents a path-finding exploration of European policy integration Offers an in-depth analysis of four major policy areas Written by leading experts in the field

Autorentext
Dirk Leuffen is Professor of International Politics at the Department of Politics and Public Administration, University of Konstanz, Germany. Berthold Rittberger is Professor of International Relations at the Geschwister-Scholl-Institute of Political Science, University of Munich, Germany. Frank Schimmelfennig is Professor of European Politics at ETH Zurich, Center for Comparative and International Studies, Switzerland.

Inhalt
Introduction.- The European Union as a System of Differentiated Integration.- PART I: THEORY Intergovernmentalism.- Supranationalism.- Constructivism.- PART II: POLICIES The Single Market.- Economic and Monetary Union.- Security and Defence.- The Area of Freedom, Security, and Justice.- Conclusions: Integration and differentiation in the European Union.