Chapter 5 Answer guidance

Q3) What value does the ‘domestic politics’ approach add to classical intergovernmentalism?

See sections 5.3, 5.4

• Hoffman’s ‘classical intergovernmentalism’ of the 1960s
• 1) Rejection of neo-functionalist theory as an explanation of European integration
• From process of integration to context
• From spillover to conflict of interests
• From ‘logic of integration’ to ‘logic of diversity’
• → Systematic contextualization of events of the mid-1960s
• 2) Importance of national governments: sovereignty ‘tamed’ not superseded
• Hold sovereignty over territory
• Hold political legitimacy as democratically elected
• 3) Based on realist assumptions but states are not just ‘black boxes’
• They represent communities of identity and belonging.
• 4) Distinction between ‘high’ and ‘low’ politics
• Functional integration more likely in areas of low politics (economic sphere)