Blueprints, Red Tape, and Shades of Gray. The Chromatics of Romania’s accession to the European Union in economic and administrative perspective

Seminar Paper , 2009 , 27 Pages , Grade: 1,3

Politics - Topic: European Union

This study develops a perspective of ambivalent dynamics of institution building in EU applicant countries. The dissemination of institutional design differs in effect according to
the sector which is being focused. For the case of Romania it is stated that, in the economic dimension, a neoliberal blueprint was diffused while in the politico-administrative dimension, the EU lacked both, a clear best-practice and strong instruments of enforcement. Treating the weakness of statehood as the dependent variable, in both sectors however, tendencies to the reinforcement of patrimonialist structures can be observed. Those forms of patrimonialism breed problems of corruption and a limited possibility to absorb EU funding. In each case there are cross-sectoral effects observable.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• INTRODUCTION
• INITIAL STEPS OF THE ANALYSIS
  • DEVELOPING THE ARGUMENT
  • CASE SELECTION
• IN SEARCH FOR A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
  • EUROPEANIZATION: HOW EU PRESSURES HAVE DOMESTIC POLICY-OUTCOMES
  • NIE: UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF ECONOMIC REGIMES IN TRANSITION
• THE EU IMPACT ON THE POLITICO-ADMINISTRATIVE SPHERE
  • ASSESSING GENERAL IMPACT MECHANISMS
  • PATRIMONIALISM, CORRUPTION AND ROMANIAN CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
• THE EU IMPACT ON THE ECONOMIC SPHERE
  • HOW INSTITUTIONAL BLUEPRINTS BREED PATRIMONIALISM
  • THE PROBLEM OF EU FUND ABSORPTION
• CONCLUSIONS

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This study examines the complex interplay of institution building in EU applicant countries, highlighting the diverse effects of institutional design across different sectors. The study focuses on the case of Romania, revealing a divergence in the EU's influence on its economic and politico-administrative spheres. The study aims to understand the influence of EU pressures on domestic policy outcomes and to analyze the nature of economic regimes in transition.

• The impact of EU accession on institutional reforms in Romania's economy and civil service
• The divergence of EU influence on economic and administrative sectors
• The role of "Europeanization" in shaping domestic policies in transition countries
• The emergence and persistence of patrimonialist structures in Romania
• The challenges of EU fund absorption and the implications for Romanian statehood

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

This preview focuses on the initial chapters and excludes summaries of the conclusion or final chapters.

• Introduction: This chapter establishes the study's focus on the ambivalent dynamics of institution building in EU applicant countries, particularly in Romania. It highlights the distinct approaches to economic and administrative integration and the role of "Europeanization" in shaping these processes. The chapter introduces the concept of "weakness of statehood" as the dependent variable and highlights the specific case of Romania's accession journey.
• Initial Steps of the Analysis: This section delves into the study's core argument, outlining the key questions it seeks to answer: what was being diffused and how was the process of diffusion conducted. It emphasizes the contrasting levels of EU influence on Romania's economic and administrative reforms, highlighting the presence of strong competences in the former and a lack of clear models and enforcement mechanisms in the latter.
• In Search for a Theoretical Framework: This chapter delves into the theoretical frameworks informing the study. It examines "Europeanization" and its impact on domestic policy outcomes, drawing on the concept of "Nie" to understand the nature of economic regimes in transition. This section provides a theoretical foundation for understanding the complexities of EU accession and its implications for transition countries.
• The EU Impact on the Politico-Administrative Sphere: This chapter analyzes the EU's influence on Romania's public administration, exploring the effectiveness of its impact mechanisms. It investigates the persistence of patrimonialism and its implications for corruption and civil service reform. This chapter sheds light on the challenges faced by Romania in building a strong and accountable public administration system.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This study centers on the impact of EU accession on institution building, particularly focusing on the case of Romania. It examines the interplay of economic and administrative reforms, emphasizing the presence of "Europeanization" and its influence on domestic policies. The analysis delves into the persistence of "patrimonialism" and its implications for corruption, administrative capacity, and EU fund absorption. Key terms include "Europeanization," "patrimonialism," "institutional blueprints," "EU conditionality," and "weakness of statehood."

• College: Zeppelin University Friedrichshafen (Department of Public Management & Governance)
• Grade: 1,3
• Author: Boris Kleemann (Author)
• Publication Year: 2009
• Pages: 27
• Catalog Number: V135715
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640444083
• ISBN (Book): 9783640444366
• Language: English
• Tags: accession policy, European Union, enlargement, Romania, European Regulatory Space