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.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER ONE:
BRITAIN IN THE EUROPEAN UNION –
AWKWARD PARTNER AND SEMI-DETACHED MEMBER
1.1 CONTEXT: BRITAIN AND EUROPE IN THE ACADEMIC DEBATE
1.2 THEORETICAL CLAIMS OF THE AWKWARD PARTNER THESIS
1.2.1 THE INTERNATIONAL FACTORS: ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT, POLITICAL ADAPTATION, SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP TO THE U.S.
1.2.2 Domestic political constraints
1.2.2.1 Political Forces
1.2.2.2 Institutions
1.2.2.3 Policies
1.2.3 ADAPTABILITY OF BRITAIN’S AWKWARDNESS
1.3 CONCRETE DEVELOPMENTS EXPLAINED
1.4 SUMMARY AND CRITICAL ASSESSMENT
CHAPTER TWO:
BRITAIN AND THE SINGLE EUROPEAN ACT
2.1 background
2.2 chronology of events and the white paper
2.3 The INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE and its results
2.4 British contributions to the SINGLE ACT
2.5 The British domestic political dimension
2.6 Summary and conclusions
CHAPTER THREE:
CONCLUSIONS AND LIBERAL INTERGOVERNMENTALISM
3.1 Awkward Partner Thesis and Single European Act revisited
3.2 Contradictions, inconsistencies, implications
3.3 PUTTING An end to British awkwardness?
3.4 central government, and the Link to EUROPEAN Integration THEORIES
3.5 Liberal Intergovernmentalism: The way forward for the Awkward Partner THESIS
Research Objectives and Themes
This thesis critically examines the "Awkward Partner" (AP) framework, which characterizes Britain as a semi-detached and obstructive member of the European Union. By analyzing the negotiations and ratification of the Single European Act (SEA), the research challenges the notion that Britain’s EU relations are defined by inherent, constant domestic obstacles, proposing instead a reconciliation with Liberal Intergovernmentalism to provide a more accurate theoretical lens.
- Theoretical evaluation of the "Awkward Partner" thesis and its endogenous/exogenous claims.
- Empirical analysis of the Single European Act (SEA) negotiations and British involvement.
- Deconstruction of the role of the central government and domestic political constraints in the UK.
- Integration of Liberal Intergovernmentalism as a framework to understand national preference formation.
Excerpt from the Book
BRITAIN AND THE SINGLE EUROPEAN ACT
As argued above, the AP thesis is mainly based on the political structure and hence should hold for all major (!) instances and trends in the relationship between Britain and the EU. Since the thesis focuses on the period between 1973 (British accession to the EC) and the early 1990s (publication of books on the AP thesis), the mid-1980s must have been an important reference point. The SEA of 1985-6 is thus a legitimate target for scrutiny. Furthermore, the SEA was probably the single most important event of European integration in the 1980s because it meant the first formal revision of the original Community treaties. If the AP thesis is to be upheld, the SEA must be reconcilable with it.
Put simply, the question that is addressed in this chapter is whether Britain was awkward on the occasion of preparing, negotiating and ratifying the SEA, or not. A mixture of mainly secondary sources is here regarded as sufficient for creating a well-informed picture of the crucial events. Examples of the diverse range of writers drawn upon include participants (Agnelli, 1989; Cockfield, 1994), proponents of theories of European integration (Hoffmann, 1989; Garrett, 1992), surveyors of the European Union (Dinan, 1994; McAllister, 1997), commentators on the importance of SEM and SEA (Pelkmans and Winters, 1988; Ludlow, 1989), and writers on British-European relations (Wallace, 1990; Young, 1993). In addition, some primary documents complete the picture that is presented below (e.g. HM Government, 1984; House of Lords, 1986). Descriptive, analytical and interpretative elements are all part of the study but do not follow any particular theoretical hypothesis. This divergence aims to ensure that the empirical evidence does not a priori confirm or reject the AP thesis. However, it must be clear that facts do not, and cannot, speak for themselves.
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER ONE: BRITAIN IN THE EUROPEAN UNION – AWKWARD PARTNER AND SEMI-DETACHED MEMBER: This chapter outlines the academic debate surrounding the AP thesis, identifying its core theoretical components and its focus on British domestic political constraints as the primary cause for perceived awkwardness.
CHAPTER TWO: BRITAIN AND THE SINGLE EUROPEAN ACT: This section provides a detailed empirical examination of the SEA negotiations, arguing that the British government acted as a constructive partner rather than an obstructive one during the mid-1980s.
CHAPTER THREE: CONCLUSIONS AND LIBERAL INTERGOVERNMENTALISM: The final chapter synthesizes the findings, suggesting that the AP thesis remains a useful benchmark if refined by Liberal Intergovernmentalism, which better reconciles national preferences with interstate bargaining.
Keywords
Awkward Partner Thesis, European Integration, Single European Act, British Politics, Liberal Intergovernmentalism, Domestic Politics Approach, New Institutionalism, European Union, Central Government, Gatekeeper Role, National Preferences, Thatcherism, Sovereignty, Policy Adaptation, Intergovernmental Conference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this dissertation?
The work examines the theoretical framework known as the "Awkward Partner" (AP) thesis, which posits that Britain has been a semi-detached and uniquely difficult member of the European Union, and evaluates its validity through the case study of the Single European Act.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
Key themes include the historical development of UK-EC relations, the role of domestic political structures (parties, institutions, and interest groups) in shaping foreign policy, and the validity of supranational integration theories compared to intergovernmental approaches.
What is the main research question of this study?
The study asks whether the AP thesis effectively explains Britain’s behavior within the EU and, if not, whether it should be abandoned or revised to better account for empirical reality.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The research employs a qualitative historical-empirical case study approach, analyzing documentary evidence from the 1980s and integrating existing theoretical scholarship on European integration to test the explanatory power of the AP framework.
What does the main body cover?
The main body systematically deconstructs the AP thesis's claims regarding international and domestic constraints, presents a chronological analysis of the Single European Act negotiations, and concludes by proposing Liberal Intergovernmentalism as a superior analytical model.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is defined by terms such as the "Awkward Partner" thesis, British Euro-skepticism vs. constructiveness, domestic political constraints, intergovernmental bargaining, and the evolution of the European internal market.
How does the author characterize the role of the Thatcher government during the SEA negotiations?
The author argues that far from being purely obstructive, the Thatcher government was "skilful" and "constructive," finding that the SEA aligned with the neo-liberal domestic agenda of the UK at the time.
Why does the author propose Liberal Intergovernmentalism (LI) as a successor framework?
LI is proposed because it effectively links the national preference formation process—influenced by domestic politics—with interstate bargaining, allowing for a more nuanced explanation that avoids the negative, simplistic connotations of the original "Awkward Partner" label.
- Citation du texte
- Christian Splett (Auteur), 1999, BRITAIN AND EUROPEAN INTEGRATION: THE AWKWARD PARTNER THESIS REVISITED, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/185510
