The Community Trap: Liberal Norms, Rhetorical Action, and the Eastern Enlargement of the European Union

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The Community Trap: Liberal Norms, Rhetorical Action, and the Eastern Enlargement of the European Union

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Frank Schimmelfennig

Abstract

The decision of the European Union to expand to Central and Eastern Europe is a puzzle for rationalist intergovernmentalism. This approach to the study of European integration accounts for most of the preferences of the state actors and many characteristics of the intergovernmental bargaining process but fails to explain why it resulted in the opening of accession negotiations. I introduce the mechanism of rhetorical action in order to show how the supporters of enlargement succeeded in overcoming the superior material bargaining power of their opponents. Through the strategic use of arguments based on the liberal norms of the European international community, the "drivers" caught the "brakemen" in the community trap and, step by step, shamed them into acquiescing in Eastern enlargement. © 2001 The IO Foundation and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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Article provided by MIT Press in its journal International Organization.

Volume (Year): 55 (2001)
Issue (Month): 1 (March)
Pages: 47-80
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Handle: RePEc:tpr:intorg:v:55:y:2001:i:1:p:47-80

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Michal Natorski, 2007. "Explaining Spanish and Polish Approaches to the European Neighbourhood Policy," European Political Economy Review, European Political Economy Infrastructure Consortium, vol. 7(Summer), pages 63-101. [Downloadable!]
Arne Niemann, 2006. "Explaining visa, asylum and immigration policy Treaty revision: insights from a revised neofunctionalist framework," The Constitutionalism Web-Papers p0005, University of Bath, Department of European Studies and Modern Languages. [Downloadable!]
Rachel Epstein, 2003. "The Internationalization of Finance and Defense in Postcommunist Poland," EUI-RSCAS Working Papers 2, European University Institute (EUI), Robert Schuman Centre of Advanced Studies (RSCAS). [Downloadable!]
Antje Wiener, 2002. "Finality vs. Enlargement - Constitutive Practices and Opposing Rationales in the Reconstruction of Europe," Jean Monnet Working Papers 8, Jean Monnet Chair. [Downloadable!]

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