The significance of the Eastern European area for the European Union has become visible with the Eastern enlargement in 2004.
Ever since then the question remains how to interact with the bordering neighbor countries. This paper aims to examine the
European Neighbourhood Policy from a rationalist-constructivist perspective. Furthermore, parallels between the decision-making
process for the Eastern enlargement will be drawn by paying special attention to Frank Schimmelfennig's contributions to the
issue. I conclude that despite the absence of accession talks, a potential future accession perspective displays the highest
incentive for Eastern neighbors to participate in the ENP and that there is a possibility for renegotiating accession by making use of rhetorical action.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Rationalist, sociological institutioalism or both? Summary of The EU, NATO and the Integration of Europe – Rules and Rhetoric
3. On European Neighbourhood Policy
4. Argumentation
4.1 Rationalist Institutionalism
4.1.1 EU
4.1.2 Individual Member-states
4.1.3 Eastern neighbor countries
4.2 Sociological Institutionalism
4.2.1 EU
4.2.2 Eastern neighbor countries
4.3 Rationalist and sociological institutionalism and rhetorical action
5. Conclusion
Research Objectives & Topics
This paper examines the motivations for Eastern European countries to participate in the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) by applying a rationalist-constructivist theoretical framework. The central research objective is to determine if the dynamics observed during the 2004 EU Eastern enlargement—specifically the use of rhetorical action to secure accession—can be mirrored by current ENP participants to eventually achieve a future EU membership perspective.
- Theoretical application of rationalist and sociological institutionalism to the ENP.
- Analysis of the strategic incentives and benefits for both the EU and Eastern neighbor countries.
- Evaluation of the "rhetorical action" mechanism in shaping European integration policy.
- Assessment of the long-term sustainability of the ENP without a clear membership path.
- Investigation into "procedural entrapment" as a potential future outcome for the European Union.
Excerpt from the Book
Rationalist and sociological institutionalism and rhetorical action
Schimmelfennig found out that the reasons in favor of Eastern enlargement were based on the synthesis of ratonalist-constructivist assumptions paired with shaming skeptics into compliance through rhetorical action. This was possible because of rhetorical entrapment. Rational egoistic actors invoked normative commitments that all members had engaged with and that were defined as the core principles of European identity. Referring to these principles enabled them to shame the skeptic member-states into compliance (Schimmelfennig 2003). Since the normative values subsist there generally is a possibility of revised entrapment. Even though it is said that the likelihood for that was considerably scaled-down by the exclusion of membership perspectives (Sasse in Gstöhl 2017, p. 8), there are reasons to believe otherwise. This is due to the fact, that the ENP shows significant parallels to the enlargement process as illustrated in my argumentation. In fact, there are various reasons to believe that both the participating non-member states and individual Eastern member states pursue the target of initiating accession talks with the Eastern neighbor countries regardless of the ENP's standpoint on that. In that respect, there is a possibility of instrumentalizing the conception of European identity by using rhetorical action just as it was practiced during the enlargement negotiations. Thus, if the neighbor countries succeed in fulfilling EU rules – especially those normative rules that refer to collective identity – there is a chance of renegotiating accession considerations by making use of rhetorical action with the support of the CEECs member-states.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the research focus on the ENP as a theoretical puzzle comparable to the 2004 Eastern enlargement, introducing the rationalist-constructivist perspective.
2. Rationalist, sociological institutioalism or both? Summary of The EU, NATO and the Integration of Europe – Rules and Rhetoric: Summarizes Frank Schimmelfennig’s theoretical framework regarding institutional enlargement, focusing on the interplay between self-interest and normative community rules.
3. On European Neighbourhood Policy: Describes the structural principles, objectives, and historical development of the ENP, including the strategic reviews following regional conflicts.
4. Argumentation: Analyzes the policy through the lenses of rationalist and sociological institutionalism, detailing the benefits and costs for the EU and neighbor countries, and introduces the concept of rhetorical action in the ENP context.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes findings, affirming that a membership perspective remains the highest incentive for neighbors and that rhetorical action could potentially be used to renegotiate accession.
Keywords
European Neighbourhood Policy, Eastern Enlargement, European Union, Rationalist Institutionalism, Sociological Institutionalism, Rhetorical Action, Accession Perspective, European Integration, Political Conditionality, Socialization, Procedural Entrapment, Normative Identity, Institutionalism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper investigates why Eastern European countries participate in the ENP despite the absence of a formal EU membership perspective, using theoretical models developed by Frank Schimmelfennig.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The research covers European integration theory, the dynamics of institutional enlargement, and the strategic application of soft power and normative rules within the ENP.
What is the main research question?
The main question is whether the dynamics of "rhetorical action" used during the 2004 Eastern enlargement can be applied by current ENP participants to force the EU to offer an accession perspective.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The paper utilizes a rationalist-constructivist theoretical synthesis, conducting a process analysis based on existing scholarly literature and policy documents to examine institutional decision-making.
What is addressed in the main section?
The main section dissects the motivations of the EU and its neighbors through rationalist and sociological institutionalist lenses, specifically looking at material self-interest versus identity-based normative influence.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as Rhetorical Action, European Neighbourhood Policy, Eastern Enlargement, and Rationalist Institutionalism.
How does the author define the "hybrid environment-agency link"?
The author uses this term to describe how strategic actors instrumentalize intersubjective norms and rules to achieve their own material goals, effectively sequencing rationalist and constructivist explanations.
What is "procedural entrapment" in the context of the ENP?
It refers to a potential future scenario where Eastern neighbors, having adopted EU norms and identities, use the EU's own rhetoric against them to "shame" the union into granting accession talks.
What is the conclusion regarding the future of the ENP?
The author concludes that without reform or a clear membership perspective, the ENP remains vulnerable to "procedural entrapment" and suggests that the issue of further enlargement must be addressed.
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- Elena Mertel (Autor:in), 2018, Enlargement without Membership Perspectives?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/498130
