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Beyond bargaining: The institutionalization of foreign and security policy cooperation in the European Community, 1970-1996

Posted on:1999-03-21Degree:Ph.DType:Dissertation
University:University of California, IrvineCandidate:Smith, Michael EFull Text:PDF
GTID:1466390014970690Subject:Political science
Abstract/Summary:
This dissertation investigates the relationship between institutional development and international cooperation, a major research question in international relations. It presents a general theory of institutionalization, focusing on both external and internal causes, and applies these insights to a case study of foreign and security policy cooperation among member states of the European Community (EC). These states have quietly but persistently pursued such cooperation since 1970, with the creation of "European Political Cooperation" (EPC). EPC began as a very weak, informal institution with limited goals, yet it developed and expanded beyond its original mandate, sometimes to the surprise and irritation of its member states. It was given treaty status in 1987 with the Single European Act, and the Maastricht Treaty on European Union (1991) formally linked it to the existing EC treaties as a Common Foreign and Security Policy.; Thus, in examining the relationship between institutionalization and cooperation the project analyzes the extent to which institutional mechanisms of EPC increased the propensity of EC member states to cooperate in foreign policy and led them to further institutionalize that cooperation. Methodologically, it relies on evidence from memoirs, EC documents, and personal interviews with EPC policymakers to show how supposedly weak norms and institutions influence state behavior and encourage cooperative outcomes for collective benefits, even in difficult issue-areas such as foreign and security policy. A six-stage developmental process is stressed, involving (1) the original agreement to cooperate; (2) the creation of a transgovernmental communications network; (3) the codification of procedural and substantive norms; (4) the establishment or involvement of formal organizations; (5) the creation of governance structures for political cooperation; and (6) the internalization of EPC norms in its member states. The dissertation also tracks foreign policy cooperation across several issues of concern to the EC, such as the Middle East, East-West cooperation, Central America, South Africa, the United States, and cooperation in security affairs, such as non-proliferation. The dissertation closes with an examination of the future of institutional development in the EC, focusing on recent challenges (such as enlargement and monetary union) and the potential for a European identity in world politics.
Keywords/Search Tags:Cooperation, European, Foreign and security policy, Institutional, EPC, Member states
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