Integration Theory and Treaty Reform in the EU: The Cases of the Constitutional Treaty and the Treaty of Lisbon
Author: Chien-yi Lu
Abstract / Chinese PDF Download
Among the various historic developments that have taken place in the European Union in the past decade, the Constitution-making endeavors and the subsequent reform of the institutions through the Lisbon Treaty are the most prominent. Not only was the time line of the reform process more or less contained within the decade, but the impact of the reform—both in terms of results and processes—is also far-reaching. This article assesses the strengths and weaknesses of different integration theories in explaining this Treaty reform process. Following conventional debates in international relations and EU studies, state-centered liberal intergovernmentalism is pitted against institutionalism. After singling out three main differences between these two theoretical camps, i.e., state as unitary actor, intergovernmental negotiations determining integration results, and role of supranational institutions, the article examines actual developments in the Treaty reform process against both theories. It finds that on all three points, institutionalism provides a more satisfactory explanation than liberal intergovernmentalism.