Theorizing Europeanization

Abstract

Over the last decade or so, Europeanization has been a growth area in European Union studies. Driven by the dynamism in the integration process from the Single European Market, through the development of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and other policy areas, students of the EU have been confronted with explaining the EU’s subsequent impact upon the member states, accession states and near-neighbors, such as those in the European Economic Area (EEA). Indeed, this much can be seen from the structure of this volume. Studies of the impact tend to focus on individual policy areas, on the structures and actors engaged in governance, or to be organized geographically, typically by focusing on a single member state. Where, then, does theory come into the frame?