Liberal intergovernmentalism

Liberal intergovernmentalism is a political theory developed by Andrew Moravcsik in 1993 to explain European integration. The theory is based upon and has further developed the intergovernmentalist theory and offers a more authentic perspective than its predecessor with its inclusion of both neo-liberal and realist aspects in its theory [1].

Liberal intergovernmentalism was created to be a grand theory, that seeks to explain the broader transformation of regional integration. Liberal intergovernmentalists theorists argue that it is impossible to explain the concept of EU with a single factor and believes that different approaches or theories are needed to genuinely understand the complexity of the EU. Liberal intergovernmentalism views states as the main actors, and sees EU, as an international institution, that can be studied by viewing states as the main actors in a situation of anarchy, where each state achieves their goal through negotiations and bargaining. Liberal intergovernmentalism especially studies the process of these negotiations and bargaining’s between EU’s member states. [2]


Liberal intergovernmentalism has demonstrated itself usefulness with its methods of organizing and constructing empirical studies, but liberal intergovernmentalism has also been heavily criticized [3]. A general criticism of liberal intergovernmentalism is that it focuses on the theory of grand bargaining's and major decisions and has no way of explaining the everyday decision-making procedures. Many critics point out that liberal intergovernmentalism exclusively focus on the treaty-amending moments and the member-states economic interests, while it overlooks the everyday policy agendas that represent the majority of EU policies. [4]

References

  1. ↑ Cini M. & Perez N. (2015) European Union Politics. Oxford University Press. UK. ISBN:9780198708933
  2. ↑ Cini M. & Perez N. (2015) European Union Politics. Oxford University Press. UK. ISBN: 9780198708933
  3. ↑ Cini M. & Perez N. (2015) European Union Politics. Oxford University Press. UK. ISBN:9780198708933
  4. ↑ Weiner A., Diez T. (2009) European Integration Theory. Oxford University Press. US. ISBN: 9780199226092

Sources

Moravcsik, Andrew / Schimmelfennig, Frank (2009): "Liberal Intergovernmentalism." In: Wiener, Antje / Diez, Thomas (ed.): European Integrations Theory. New York:Campus, 67-87.

"Andrew Moravcsik took liberal institutionalism one step deeper and developed a liberal theory of international relations that effectively merged the chessboard and the web. He argued that 'state-society relations--the relationship of state to the domestic and transnational social context in which they are embedded--have a fundamental impact on state behavior in world politics.' Translated into lay terms, Moravcsik's point of departure is individuals and groups in domestic society who connect to their counterparts in other societies: exactly the picture of the web. Moreover, he assumes that the 'universal condition of world politics is globalization.' It is the web of globalized economic, social and political relationships that determines the living conditions of individual citizens, corporations and civic groups and shapes what they want and thus what their governments want."[1]


  1. ↑ The chessboard and The Web. Strategies of Connection in a Networked World. Anne-Marie Slaughter. 2017.
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