THEORIZING ON EUROPEAN INTEGRATION FROM GRAND TO PARTIAL THEORIES

Abstract

The emergence and the development of the economic, social and
political institutions of EU, all aimed to boarder and deeper the
European Integration (EI), are provided a valuable site for the
conceptualization of the EI.
An understanding of the development of EU studies as an academic
sub discipline is best developed through the explanation of theoretical
work, past and present.
Heoretical study on European Integration is obviously bound up in
complex with the unfolding story of the EU, and is also observed as a
conceptual wing of the EU studies movement.
Bearing the various considerations in mind, I try to examine some
main theoretical approaches which show a respective evolution from
grand and comprehensive to partial and multi-level theories.
The earliest theories of the EI grew up of a classical and intellectual
context which was trying to give a comprehensive framework
explaining all dimensions through a singe level study. The theories
like Functionalism, Neo functionalism; Transnationalism, Federalism,
Interdependence and Intergovernmentalism are classified in the frist
category.