Europeanization (political science)

Europeanization describes the transformation of social and political basic conditions and processes and is increasingly used in social and political science as well as in historical studies to describe social change in Europe as a result of European integration .

General use of language and change of terminology

The term Europeanization is used differently in the literature and is generally applied in three areas. In the historical context he means the export of European values, cultural goods and political systems within the framework of and as a result of European colonialism . In the cultural context it refers to the loss of meaning of national identities through the emergence and assimilation of a European identity .

In political science , the terms Europeanization and European integration were originally used synonymously, since Europeanization was understood as "becoming Europe", that is, as the emergence of political, legal and social institutions on a European level.

From the beginning of the 1990s, the Europeanization approach was differentiated from the approach of European integration. In contrast to European integration, Europeanization now describes the national reactions to European processes in a minimal consensus. The political changes in the EU member states triggered by impulses from the EU level do not necessarily have to deepen European integration.

Some political science authors differentiate between membership and accession Europeanization. Europeanization not only affects EU member states, but also potential accession candidates, such as Turkey , or neighboring EU countries such as Russia .

In political science there are a variety of definitions of the concept of Europeanization. A first and much-cited definition was written in 1994 by Robert Ladrech, Professor of Political Science at the School of Politics, International Relations and Philosophy, Keele University, UK. He describes Europeanization as a gradual process of a reorientation of politics, in which political currents of the European community become part of national politics and policy making.

Claudio Radaelli developed this definition by Robert Ladrech and formulated the most comprehensive concept of Europeanization to date. He formulates Europeanization as a process of changing the logic of national political action. Unlike Ladrech's concept, his concept encompasses the emergence of European politics, but also its repercussions on the nation states.

Europeanization is an interactive process that not only describes the effects of European politics on the national level, but also includes the opposite direction of action, since the national states are - at least indirectly - responsible for the European processes and the impulses emanating from the EU level, or influence them.

In addition to various definitions, there are various concepts of Europeanization, such as the misfit model, the transformation model or the consideration of Europeanization as a macro process.

Theories in Political Science

Although more and more empirical studies on Europeanization have been carried out in various policy fields since the beginning of the new millennium at the latest, there is still a theoretical deficit. There is not yet a fully developed theory, so that all the explanations given here can only be understood as theoretical approaches.

Misfit model

The misfit model is a basic model that tries to explain Europeanization.

The misfit model is based on the question of the suitability of national structures in view of the pressure to Europeanize. The misfit between the two levels is the central parameter for the character and extent of domestic change. The extent of the pressure to change does not only come from the EU level, but also depends largely on the national circumstances. The lower the fit, the greater the pressure to adapt to the national structures. In the Misfit model, however, internal political change is limited to internal structures and does not include changes in political processes. Since a misfit only arises when there is pressure to adapt from outside, i.e. there are clear guidelines on the part of the EU level, this model can only explain Europeanization if the integration process is positive. However, other mechanisms of Europeanization, such as horizontal impulses, cannot be explained.

As an explanatory model for Europeanization, the Misfit model has only established itself through systematic expansion under the name “top-down model” . The “top-down model” also deals with the question of the conditions under which Europeanization, i.e. the adaptation of national processes or institutions on the basis of EU impulses, occurs. The fit is understood as a functional deficit at the national level. Only if national structures and processes prove to be incompatible with the impulses of the EU level will an adjustment take place. The prerequisite here is that sufficient domestic conditions also allow changes within the framework of Europeanization.

If a national actor tries to bring about changes at the EU level, it is a question of European integration and not Europeanization.

The following scheme illustrates Europeanization as an EU-induced adaptation process:

“Fit” (“misfit”) between Europeanization and internal structures (= pressure to adapt)

→

Institutions and actors react to opportunity structures:

Number of veto positions
Appropriate formal institutions

→ Redistribution of institutional resources

Norms and ideas trigger change:

Norm entrepreneur
Appropriate informal institutions

→ Social learning, standardization, identity development

→

Domestic change in terms of:

Polity
Politics
Policies

However, the misfit model does not clarify how the EU's influence on domestic change can be determined and ignores the influence of global processes. The misfit model is therefore not sufficient as the sole model to explain Europeanization.

Transformation model

The expanded and specified transformation model according to Beichelt

In the transformation model, changes in nation-state structures and changes in the national political system occur through domestic political processes. Political processes of the nation-state actors begin and end at the national level.

European politics is seen as an external influence on the internal political process. Europeanization is seen here as just one variable among several that is the cause of internal change. However, the primary causes of change are actors, problems, resources, political styles and discourses at the national level.

The basic idea of the transformation model thus describes the conception of the national political process through external European influencing factors, but also through global influencing factors.

The main difference to the Misfit model is that the transformation model examines the transformation of nation-state structures and domestic political processes between two points in time (t ₀ and t ₁ ).

The transformation model expands the Europeanization with spatial contexts, consisting of three levels that influence the changes in the political process that transforms the national political system. In contrast to the Misfit model, it is not only the EU-European dimension that is an important factor influencing the political process. On the one hand, a regional dimension is taken into account, as sub-national actors and regional networks increasingly influence political decisions. On the other hand, as already mentioned, the global dimension plays an important role. Integration science, for example, sees Europeanization as a special case of globalization.

By including these spatial contexts, it is possible to differentiate the specific influence of the EU level on the national level from other influencing factors and to consider it largely in isolation.

In addition to the spatial contexts, the transformation model can be expanded to include systemic context factors. Norms and ideas, institutions and actors are seen as mechanisms of Europeanization. The diagram opposite illustrates the mode of action and interrelationships of Europeanization in the transformation model.

The transformation model can be used as an explanation of Europeanization for decisions that go through the domestic policy cycle, but not for decisions that are formally made independently by the Commission.

The high complexity of the transformation model also makes a concrete mapping of empirical situations difficult. Similar to the Misfit model, in the transformation model the direction of action of European impulses on the national level is linear; the opposite direction of action is also referred to in the transformation model as European integration, not Europeanization.

Part of a macro process

When considering Europeanization as a macro process, Europeanization can be divided into three overlapping levels: the level of the European Union, the level of the member states and the global level . Similar to the effects of Europeanization, when looking at the macro level, another possible source of impetus for changes in the national policies of the EU member states can be discovered alongside the European Union. The global level can also achieve effects that are similar to those of Europeanization. While the overlap between the EU and member states can be described as Europeanization, a distinction must be made in processes between the global level and the member states, or the global level and the EU. Examples of the influence of the global level on the EU and later through Europeanization on its member states are climate protection, a jointly pursued financial policy after the financial crisis of 2008 or the dispute with ACTA at the European level.

Vectors of Europeanization

Europeanization of the national level

The influence of European politics on the member states is also known as top-down Europeanization. The process of Europeanization includes changes that are brought about by Europeanization impulses in the course of European integration and then implemented in the member states. Europeanization impulses can be, for example, directives and regulations, or newly created incentive structures, incentives for subsidies. An example of this is the implementation of the case law of the European Court of Justice in the respective member states. However, Europeanization is not a homogenizing process. The reactions to European impulses vary widely from Member State to Member State. There are also significant differences between the various dimensions of national policy. As a result, there were divergent adjustment processes in the Member States. Examples from environmental or climate policy show that after the “expansion, deepening and institutionalization” of European policy-making, the public and the national systems first had to react to the supranational challenge and then act as a national system. More recently, the effects of the EU on non-member states such as Switzerland, Norway and the Central and Eastern European member states, or EU accession candidates such as Croatia, have been discussed.

from the European to the national public sector
from the European public to the national private sector
from the European private sector to the national private sector
from the European private sector to the national public sector

National influence at European level

The influence of the member states on the European Union is known as bottom-up Europeanization.

from the national to the European public sector
from the national public to the European private sector
from the national to the European private sector
from the national private to the European public sector

The Liberal intergovernmentalism is to enforce a theory of political science, who explained that economically powerful states a higher chance of their own political ideas at European level. Important for this are national preferences, those of individuals or of interest groups in which individuals come together. The preference, which can prevail in pluralistic competition, becomes a national interest. Other opinions are - for the state - no longer relevant. This state interest is expressed intergovernmental, i.e. intergovernmental, and acted accordingly. Andrew Moravcsik describes this process in his book "Preferences and Power in the European Community: A Liberal Intergovernementalist Approach".

Examples

Europeanization can be observed in a wide variety of areas. For example, one speaks of a Europeanisation of interest groups when they expand their action horizon to include the European level. Changes can be found in the structure of the association system, in the participation options of the interest group in political events as well as in the strategy and the organizational structure of the interest groups themselves. The Europeanization of civil society means the emergence of a European civil society.

Especially with regard to a European public , the concept of Europeanization is a central aspect. The representatives of the neofunctional theory school adopt a top-down Europeanization. Through a so-called transfer effect, the interest in Europe is transferred from the already existing transnational specialist public to other public levels. This Europeanization "from above" stands in the way of a bottom-up Europeanization, which Karl W. Deutsch describes in his transactionist theory. A European public in German leads to integration through communication, which leads to the "development of a sense of community" and "which, together with institutions and decision-making processes, establishes stable expectations in the population for peaceful changes over a long period of time."

Example of climate policy

As can be seen from the analysis of the Europeanization process, there are many influences and impulses that affect national politics. Europeanization is still a very theoretical approach that does not yet have a uniform definition. Using various theories relating to the Europeanization approach, using Germany's climate policy as an example, it can be analyzed that national policy is influenced from many sides, be it the global or European level. In the context of positive integration, the EU can enforce regulations and directives in the member states that must be followed and in this way can reshape national politics. On the one hand, EU policy can be based on legal coercion; on the other hand, there are also soft instruments that the EU can use to influence. These “soft factors” are no longer sufficient in climate policy, since generally binding ordinances and measures should be implemented in the context of climate policy in order to strengthen climate protection. It is therefore particularly important to promote a pan-European solution in energy policy in order to generate effective and climate-neutral energy. Europeanization, especially in the area of German climate policy, is therefore an indispensable process that is being intensified. So far, there has already been an increasing shift in community environmental policy goals and competencies, and supranational legislation has also become more and more condensed using the example of climate policy.

System levels of Europeanization

The effects on the national politics of the EU member states take place in the areas of polity , politics and policies .

Polity

At the structural level, the effects on state institutions and administrative processes are primarily considered.

Politics

In the process area, there are above all effects in the field of brokering interests. The formation of interest groups at European level can have an impact on national interest brokering.

Policy

With regard to the policy content, the implementation of European guidelines is primarily considered.

Institutional and social consequences of Europeanization

There is a pronounced theoretical pluralism in Europeanization research . The most common theses on the consequences of Europeanization are presented below.

Institutional consequences

This concerns the consequences related to the political institutions, thus to the polity level.

Fusion thesis

In the merger thesis, the nation state as such remains in the process of Europeanization, but is constantly changing both formally and substantially. There is a merging or amalgamation of state action and control elements, with the violence emanating partly from the EU and partly from the nation state. This merger is irreversible.

Political entanglement thesis

The political entanglement thesis represents a contrast to the merger thesis. Here one assumes a federal order of the EU. However, this thesis remains open to the possibility of unbundling. Compromises and bottom-up processes are the result.

Political network thesis

The political network thesis arises from the governance approach. Different actors come together in networks to accumulate their common interests. Nation-state borders are becoming increasingly porous. National networks are to be differentiated from EU networks depending on their interests. See also corporatism , lobbyism .

Social consequences

This concerns the consequences related to the societies and cultures of Europe.

Political-cultural change

Political-cultural change is a constructivist approach (→ constructivism ) in which the effectiveness of value systems and norms for political action ( framing ) is examined. Among other things, the question of why states make pro-EU decisions without pressure from the EU will be investigated. It examines the extent to which a new culture is emerging: a European culture.

Europeanization through regulatory competition

As the name suggests, Europeanization through regulatory competition examines the consequences of Europeanization due to economic competition in Europe. It deals with the existing pressure from EU member states, but above all non-member states, to integrate the European market because of economic advantages, although EU policy only provides the framework for the European market.

literature

Karin Auel: Europeanization of National Politics . In: Hans-Jürgen Bieling, Marika Lerch (ed.): Theories of European integration . VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaft, Wiesbaden 2005, p. 293-318 .

Heinz-Jürgen Axt, Antonio Milosoki, Oliver Schwarz: Europeanization - a broad field. Literature review and research questions . In: Political quarterly . No. 48 , 2007, p. 136-149 .

Timm Beichelt : Germany and Europe. The Europeanization of the political system . VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden 2009, ISBN 978-3-531-15141-0 ( Google Books [accessed on November 18, 2012]).

Tanja A. Börzel, Diana Panke: Europeanization . In: Michelle Cini, Nieves Pérez-Solórzano Borragán (eds.): European Union Politics . Oxford University Press , Oxford 2010, pp. 405-417 .

Tanja A. Börzel: Europeanization of German Politics? In: Manfred G. Schmidt , Reimut Zohlnhofer, (Ed.): Governing in the Federal Republic of Germany . VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaft, Wiesbaden 2006, p. 491-509 .

Tobias Chilla: Point, Line, Area - Territorialized Europeanization (= Luxemburg Studies . Volume 5 ). Peter Lang , Frankfurt am Main 2013.

Theofanis Exadaktylos, Claudio M. Radaelli (Ed.): Research Design in European Studies. Establishing Causality in Europeanization . Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke 2012, ISBN 978-0-230-28531-6 (English).

Klaus H. Goetz, Simon Hix: Europeanised politics? European integration and national political systems . Frank Cass, London / Portland 2001, ISBN 0-7146-5141-9 .

Christoph Knill : The EU and the member states . In: Katharina Holzinger (ed.): The European Union: Theories and analysis concepts . Verlag Ferdinand Schöningh , Paderborn 2005, p. 153-179 .

Robert Ladrech: Europeanization of Domestic Politics and Institutions: The Case of France . In: JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies . tape 32 , no. 1 , 1994, p. 69-88 .

Johan P. Olsen : The Many Faces of Europeanization . In: Michelle Cini, Amy Verdun (Eds.): JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies . tape 40 , no. 5 . Wiley-Blackwell, December 2002, ISSN 1468-5965 , pp. 921-952 .

Bernd Hüttemann , Thomas Traguth: Europeanization. The Impact of Europe. What You See Is What You Do Not Get . In: Tartu Ülikool Euroopa Kolledž (ed.): EL ajalooline kujunemine ja euroopastumise teooria . Tartu 2009 ( handle.net ).

Claudio M. Radaelli: The Europeanization of Public Policy . In: Kevin Featherstone, Claudio M. Radaelli (Eds.): The Politics of Europeanization . Oxford University Press , New York 2003, pp. 27-56 .

Rinus van Schendelen: The Art of EU Lobbying. Successful public affairs management in the labyrinth of Brussels . Lexxion, Der Juristische Verlag, Berlin 2012, ISBN 978-3-86965-194-1 .

Roland Sturm: What is Europeanization? For the delimitation and integration of the nation state in the process of European integration . In: Gunnar Folke Schuppert , Ingolf Pernice , Ulrich Haltern (eds.): European science . Nomos, Baden-Baden 2003, ISBN 3-8329-1025-5 , p. 101-128 .

Roland Sturm , Heinrich Pehle : The new German system of government. The Europeanization of institutions, decision-making processes and political fields in the Federal Republic of Germany . 2nd Edition. Opladen 2006.

Rainer Eising: The Europeanization of German Interest Groups: Do the Institutions Fit and Are Capacities Sufficient? In: Rainer Eising, Beate Kohler-Koch (Hrsg.): Interest politics in Europe . Baden-Baden 2005, p. 311-339 .

Barbara Finke, Michèle Knodt : Civil society and civil society actors in the European Union . In: Barbara Finke, Michèle Knodt (Ed.): European civil society. Concepts, actors, strategies . Wiesbaden 2005, ISBN 3-8100-4205-6 , pp. 11-28 .

Klaus Roth, Wolfgang Höpken, Gabriela Schuber: Europeanization - Globalization - Tradition, rule and everyday life in Southeastern Europe . Kubon & Sagner, Munich 2015, ISBN 978-3-86688-546-2 .

Web links

Wiktionary: Europeanization - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Wiktionary: Europeanize - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Social sciences: Europeanization and transnational processes. University of Oldenburg, accessed January 15, 2012 .
History: Ulrike von Hirschhausen , Kiran Klaus Patel : Europeanization. In: Docupedia contemporary history . November 29, 2010.

Individual evidence

↑ Birgit Sittermann: Europeanization - A Step Forward in Understanding Europe? Ed .: Westfälische Wilhelmsuniversität. Münster 2006 ( online [PDF; 161 kB ; accessed on November 18, 2012]).
^ ^A ^b Karin Auel: Europeanization of national politics. In: Hans-Jürgen Bieling, Marika Lerch (ed.): Theories of European integration. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden 2005, pp. 295–296.
^ Claudio M. Radaelli: The Europeanization of Public Policy. In: Kevin Featherstone, Claudio M. Radaelli: The Politics of Europeanization. Oxford University Press, New York 2003.
↑ ^a ^b Heinz-Jürgen Axt, Antonio Milosoki, Oliver Schwarz: Europeanization - a wide field . Literature review and research questions. In: Political quarterly . No. 48 , 2007, p. 136-149 .
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Timm Beichelt: Germany and Europe. The Europeanization of the political system . VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden 2009, ISBN 978-3-531-15141-0 ( Google Books [accessed on November 18, 2012]).
^ Tanja A. Börzel: Europeanization of German Politics? In: Manfred Gustav Schmidt, Reimut Zohlnhofer, (Ed.): Governing in the Federal Republic of Germany . VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaft, Wiesbaden 2006, p. 491-509 .
^ Katrin Auel: Europeanization of national politics . In: Hans-Jürgen Bieling, Marika Lerch (ed.): Theories of European integration . Wiesbaden 2012, p. 247-269 .
↑ Beichelt, Timm .: Germany and Europe: the Europeanization of the political system . 1st edition VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden 2009, ISBN 978-3-531-15141-0 .
^ Tanja A. Börzel, Thomas Risse: Conceptualizing the Domestic Impact of Europe. In: Kevin Featherstone, Claudio M. Radaelli (Eds.): The Politics of Europeanization. Oxford University Press, Oxford 2003.
^ Andrea Lenschow: Environmental Policy. Contending Dynamics of Policy Change. In: Helen Wallace, William Wallace, Mark A. Pollack (Eds.): Policy-Making in the European Union. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 305-327.
^ ^A ^b Rinus van Schendelen : Machiavelli in Brussels, the art of lobbying the EU . 4th edition. Amsterdam University Press, Amsterdam 2007, ISBN 978-90-5356-766-1 .
^ Andrew Moravcsik: The Choice for Europe. Social Purpose & State Power from Messina to Maastricht . Ithaca / NY 1998.
^ Andrew Moravcsik: Preferences and Power in the European Community. A liberal intergovernmentalist approach. In: Journal of Common Market Studies. 31 (4), 1993, pp. 473-524.
^ Rainer Eising: The Europeanization of German Interest Groups: Do the Institutions Fit and Are the Capacities Sufficient? In: Rainer Eising, Beate Kohler-Koch (Hrsg.): Interest politics in Europe . Baden-Baden 2005, p. 311-339 .
↑ Barbara Finke, Michèle Knodt: Civil society and civil society actors in the European Union . In: Barbara Finke, Michèle Knodt (Ed.): European civil society. Concepts, actors, strategies . Wiesbaden 2005, p. 11-28 .
↑ Christoph O. Meyer: European public sphere as a sphere of control: The European Commission, the media and political responsibility . Berlin 2002, p. 60 f .
↑ Christoph Knill: The EU and the member states . In: Katharina Holzinger (ed.): The European Union: Theories and analysis concepts . Verlag Ferdinand Schöningh, Paderborn 2005, p. 153-179 .

[Sittermann2006-1] Birgit Sittermann: Europeanization - A Step Forward in Understanding Europe? Ed .: Westfälische Wilhelmsuniversität. Münster 2006 ( online [PDF; 161 kB ; accessed on November 18, 2012]).

[Karin_Auel-S295/6-2] A ^b Karin Auel: Europeanization of national politics. In: Hans-Jürgen Bieling, Marika Lerch (ed.): Theories of European integration. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden 2005, pp. 295–296.

[3] Claudio M. Radaelli: The Europeanization of Public Policy. In: Kevin Featherstone, Claudio M. Radaelli: The Politics of Europeanization. Oxford University Press, New York 2003.

[Axt2007-4] Heinz-Jürgen Axt, Antonio Milosoki, Oliver Schwarz: Europeanization - a wide field . Literature review and research questions. In: Political quarterly . No. 48 , 2007, p. 136-149 .

[Beichelt2009-5] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Timm Beichelt: Germany and Europe. The Europeanization of the political system . VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden 2009, ISBN 978-3-531-15141-0 ( Google Books [accessed on November 18, 2012]).

[Börzel2006-6] Tanja A. Börzel: Europeanization of German Politics? In: Manfred Gustav Schmidt, Reimut Zohlnhofer, (Ed.): Governing in the Federal Republic of Germany . VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaft, Wiesbaden 2006, p. 491-509 .

[Auel2012-7] Katrin Auel: Europeanization of national politics . In: Hans-Jürgen Bieling, Marika Lerch (ed.): Theories of European integration . Wiesbaden 2012, p. 247-269 .

[8] Beichelt, Timm .: Germany and Europe: the Europeanization of the political system . 1st edition VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden 2009, ISBN 978-3-531-15141-0 .

[9] Tanja A. Börzel, Thomas Risse: Conceptualizing the Domestic Impact of Europe. In: Kevin Featherstone, Claudio M. Radaelli (Eds.): The Politics of Europeanization. Oxford University Press, Oxford 2003.

[10] Andrea Lenschow: Environmental Policy. Contending Dynamics of Policy Change. In: Helen Wallace, William Wallace, Mark A. Pollack (Eds.): Policy-Making in the European Union. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 305-327.

[Schendelen2007-11] A ^b Rinus van Schendelen : Machiavelli in Brussels, the art of lobbying the EU . 4th edition. Amsterdam University Press, Amsterdam 2007, ISBN 978-90-5356-766-1 .

[12] Andrew Moravcsik: The Choice for Europe. Social Purpose & State Power from Messina to Maastricht . Ithaca / NY 1998.

[13] Andrew Moravcsik: Preferences and Power in the European Community. A liberal intergovernmentalist approach. In: Journal of Common Market Studies. 31 (4), 1993, pp. 473-524.

[Eising2005-14] Rainer Eising: The Europeanization of German Interest Groups: Do the Institutions Fit and Are the Capacities Sufficient? In: Rainer Eising, Beate Kohler-Koch (Hrsg.): Interest politics in Europe . Baden-Baden 2005, p. 311-339 .

[Finke/Knodt2005-15] Barbara Finke, Michèle Knodt: Civil society and civil society actors in the European Union . In: Barbara Finke, Michèle Knodt (Ed.): European civil society. Concepts, actors, strategies . Wiesbaden 2005, p. 11-28 .

[Meyer2002-16] Christoph O. Meyer: European public sphere as a sphere of control: The European Commission, the media and political responsibility . Berlin 2002, p. 60 f .

[Knill2005-17] Christoph Knill: The EU and the member states . In: Katharina Holzinger (ed.): The European Union: Theories and analysis concepts . Verlag Ferdinand Schöningh, Paderborn 2005, p. 153-179 .