This book focuses on the historical configuration of the territorial borders and functional boundaries of the European nation state. It presents integration as a process of boundary transcendence, redefinition, shift, and change that fundamentally alters the nature of the European states. Its core concern lies in the relationship between the specific institutional design of the new Brussels centre, the boundary redefinitions that result from its political production, and, finally, the consequences of these two elements on established and developing national European political structures. Integration is examined as a new historical phase in the development of Europe, characterized by a powerful trend toward legal, economic, and cultural de-differentiation after the five-century process of differentiation that led to the European system of nation states. Considering the EU as the formation of an enlarged territorial system, this work recovers some of the classic issues of political modernization theory: Is the EU an attempt at state formation? Is it an attempt at centre formation without nation building? Is it a process of centre formation without democratization? This work also seeks to sharpen the conceptual tools currently available to deal with processes of territorial enlargement and unification. It develops a theoretical framework for political structuring beyond the nation state, capable of linking all aspects of EU integration (inter-governmentalism, definition of rights, the 'constitutionalization' of treaties, the tensions between the new territorial hierarchy and the nation states, etc.). The book adopts an 'holistic' approach to integration, in the form of a theory from which hypotheses can be generated (even if it is not possible to test all of its components). This theoretical framework has three principal aims: to overcome a rigid distinction between domestic politics and international relations; to link actors' orientations, interests, and motivations with macro outcomes; and to relate structural profiles with dynamic processes of change.

Received an Honorable Mention for this year's prize for the Best Book on the EU 2005/2006 by European Union Studies Association
Reviews
Review from previous edition 'It is fascinating because Bartolini shares with us his broad and extensive knowledge of European history and politics. The parts where he cuts through disciplinary boundaries and decades, if not centuries, of history and politics are a pleasure to read. One cannot but admire scholars that have the gift of both perusing and condensing such a broad field of knowledge.' * EUSA review *



Book Information
ISBN 9780199231874
Author Stefano Bartolini
Format Paperback
Page Count 448
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 684g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 155mm * 26mm