This book radically re-conceptualises the origins of the European Union as a trans- and supranational polity as it emerged between the Schuman Plan of May 1950 and the first enlargement of the European Communities at the start of 1973. Drawing upon social science theories and debates as well as recent historical research, Wolfram Kaiser and Morten Rasmussen in their introductory chapters discuss innovative ways of narrating the history of the EU as the emergence of a transnational political society and supranational political system. Building on these insights, eight chapters based on multilateral and multi-archival research follow each with case studies of transnational networks, public sphere and institutional cultures and policy-making which illustrate systematically related aspects of the early history of the EU.In the concluding chapter, leading political scientist Alex Warleigh-Lack demonstrates how greater interdisciplinary cooperation, especially between contemporary history and political studies, can significantly advance our knowledge of the EU as a complex polity. This book will be of interest to students and scholars of Politics, European Studies and History.
1. Origins of a European polity: A new research agenda for European Union history "Wolfram Kaiser, Brigitte Leucht and Morten Rasmussen "2. Transnational Networks in European Governance: The informal politics of integration "Wolfram Kaiser "3. Supranational Governance in the Making: Towards a European political system "Morten Rasmussen "4. Transatlantic Policy Networks in the Creation of the First European Anti-Trust Law: Mediating between American anti-trust and German ordo-liberalism "Brigitte Leucht "5. Transnational Business Networks Propagating EC Industrial Policy: The role of the Committee of Common Market Automobiles Constructors "Sigfrido M. Ramirez Perez" 6. Socialist Party Networks in Northern Europe: Moving towards the EEC applications of 1967 "Kristian Steinnes" 7. Transnational Communication in the European Public Sphere: The summit of The Hague 1969 "Jan-Henrik Meyer" 8. DG IV and the Origins of a Supranational Competition policy: Establishing an economic constitution for Europe "Katja Seidel" 9. The Origins of Community Information Policy: Educating Europeans "Lise Rye" 10. Delegation as a Political Process: The case of the inter-institutional debate over the Budget Treaty "Ann-Christina L. Knudsen" 11. The European Commission and the Rise of Coreper: A controlled experiment "N. Piers Ludlow" 12. Interdisciplinarity in Research on the EU: Politics, history and prospects for collaboration "Alex Warleigh-Lack"
