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Using Europe: Strategic Action in Multi-Level Politics

Author

Listed:
  • Cornelia Woll

    (CERI - Centre de recherches internationales (Sciences Po, CNRS) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Sophie Jacquot

    (CEE - Centre d'études européennes et de politique comparée (Sciences Po, CNRS) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

This article examines the importance of action-theoretical considerations in European studies. By outlining the notion of "usage" of the European Union, we argue for a more systematically sociological consideration of strategic action in the study of European transformations. The recent turns towards constructivism and comparative political sociology allow analyzing the rationality of political actors without falling in the trap of overly reductionist rational choice assumptions. Concentrating on intentional action helps to reveal the importance of three aspects of the multi-level polity: (1) informal and non-constraining procedures, (2) the effects of ways in which actors move in between the different levels of the European political system, and (3) the ambiguous and often surprising coalitions that come together despite often considerable disagreement over their final goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Cornelia Woll & Sophie Jacquot, 2010. "Using Europe: Strategic Action in Multi-Level Politics," SciencePo Working papers Main hal-01023857, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:spmain:hal-01023857
    DOI: 10.1057/cep.2010.7
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://sciencespo.hal.science/hal-01023857
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Seeliger, Martin, 2017. "Die soziale Konstruktion organisierter Interessen: Gewerkschaftliche Positionsbildung auf europäischer Ebene," Schriften aus dem Max-Planck-Institut für Gesellschaftsforschung Köln, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies, volume 89, number 89.
    3. Kantola, Johanna, 2014. "The paradoxical gendered consequences of the EU policy on multiple discrimination: The Nordic case," European Integration online Papers (EIoP), European Community Studies Association Austria (ECSA-A), vol. 18, November.
    4. Dewey, Matías & Woll, Cornelia & Ronconi, Lucas, 2021. "The political economy of law enforcement," MaxPo Discussion Paper Series 21/1, Max Planck Sciences Po Center on Coping with Instability in Market Societies (MaxPo).
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