BRITAIN AND EUROPEAN INTEGRATION: THE AWKWARD PARTNER THESIS REVISITED

Thesis (M.A.) , 1999 , 78 Pages , Grade: 1.7

Politics - Topic: European Union

The argument advanced here is that the AP thesis presupposes a negative behaviour by UK governments vis-à-vis their European counterparts. This is explained by endogenous constraints that are imposed upon the core executive. These constraints are mainly caused by the divergence of domestic political forces. Slow and different
rates of adaptation to the EU decision-making level are to be emphasised. While central government has already adjusted to the EU level, it attempts to retain its ‘gatekeeper’ role between domestic and European political spheres. In contrast to the AP thesis, this
paper shall show that in the run-up to the SEA Britain was not more negative than other member states. The UK representatives made proposals and concessions, as did everyone else.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• INTRODUCTION
• CHAPTER ONE: BRITAIN IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
• AWKWARD PARTNER AND SEMI-DETACHED MEMBER
• CONTEXT: BRITAIN AND EUROPE IN THE ACADEMIC DEBATE
• THEORETICAL CLAIMS OF THE AWKWARD PARTNER THESIS
• THE INTERNATIONAL FACTORS: ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT, POLITICAL ADAPTATION, SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP TO THE U.S.
• Domestic political constraints
• Political Forces
• Institutions
• Policies
• ADAPTABILITY OF BRITAIN'S AWKWARDNESS
• CONCRETE DEVELOPMENTS EXPLAINED
• SUMMARY AND CRITICAL ASSESSMENT
• CHAPTER TWO: BRITAIN AND THE SINGLE EUROPEAN ACT
• background
• chronology of events and the white paper
• The INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE and its results
• British contributions to the SINGLE ACT
• The British domestic political dimension
• Summary and conclusions
• CHAPTER THREE: CONCLUSIONS AND LIBERAL INTERGOVERNMENTALISM
• Awkward Partner Thesis and Single European Act revisited
• Contradictions, inconsistencies, implications
• PUTTING An end to British awkwardness?
• central government, and the Link to EUROPEAN Integration THEORIES
• Liberal Intergovernmentalism: The way forward for the Awkward Partner THESIS

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper examines the "Awkward Partner" (AP) thesis, a prevalent theoretical framework that explains Britain's perceived semi-detached status within the European Union. The paper challenges the thesis' fundamental tenets, exploring potential flaws and inconsistencies by analyzing the Single European Act (SEA). It aims to determine whether the AP thesis should be abandoned or revised, proposing an alternative framework for understanding Britain's relationship with the EU.

• The "Awkward Partner" thesis
• The Single European Act (SEA)
• Domestic political constraints on British policy
• The role of central government in European integration
• Liberal Intergovernmentalism as a potential alternative framework

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Chapter One introduces the "Awkward Partner" thesis and its theoretical claims. It examines the international factors that influence Britain's position within the EU, including economic adjustment, political adaptation, and the special relationship with the United States. The chapter further analyzes domestic political constraints, focusing on political forces, institutions, and policy influences that impact British policy towards the EU.

Chapter Two delves into the Single European Act (SEA), examining its historical background, chronology of events, and the UK's contributions to its development. It also investigates the British domestic political dimension, exploring the influence of political actors and institutions on the SEA's implementation. The chapter concludes with a summary of the key findings and their implications for the "Awkward Partner" thesis.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The key terms and concepts in this study include the Awkward Partner thesis, the Single European Act, domestic political constraints, central government, European integration, and Liberal Intergovernmentalism. The work examines the role of these factors in shaping Britain's relationship with the European Union.

• College: York University
• Grade: 1.7
• Author: Christian Splett (Author)
• Publication Year: 1999
• Pages: 78
• Catalog Number: V185510
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656980902
• ISBN (Book): 9783869430256
• Language: English
• Tags: britain, european, integration, awkward, partner, thesis, revisited