RC03 - European Unification

Location: Foyer, Door 1/4-T12, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre

Date: Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Time: 12:45-13:45

1. Welcome

• Welcome- Carlos Closa, chair of IPSA RC03 for the term 2016-2018
• Agenda approval
• 21 RC03 members attended the meeting in Brisbane

2. Recent activities

• 18 IPSA RC03 panels at the 2016 IPSA World Congress in Poznan
• 11 panel proposals submitted to IPSA RC03 for the 2018 World Congress in Brisbane. 8 IPSA RC03 panels included in the final programme (between 4 and 6 papers per panel, covering a wide range of topics related to the EU and the European integration process) 

3. Website and social media

• IPSA RC03 website: http://rc03.ipsa.org/
• Since 2016, Twitter account (https://twitter.com/rc3_ipsa) and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/IPSA-RC3-European-Unification-1508340372717640/)
• Members are strongly encouraged to use the RC website, Twitter account and Facebook page in order to disseminate information relevant to the RC, including recent publications, Call for Papers, seminars, workshops, etc. To do so, please send your contributions to Daniela Vintila (Daniela.Vintila@uliege.be).  

4. Future activities

• Next IPSA Congress: Lisbon 2020. Main objective: approximately 11 RC03 panel proposals.
• RC mailing list: updated every two years. The aim is to encourage colleagues working on topics that are relevant for the RC03 to join the Committee and the mailing list. A new mailing list will be created with all the participants who attended the RC03 business meeting in Brisbane. 

5. Elections for the IPSA RC03 Executive Board

• Board members for the mandate 2016-2018:

1. Carlos Closa (Spanish National Research Council, IPP-CSIC, Spain) Chair  
2. Philomena Murray (University of Melbourne, Australia) Vice-Chair
3. Amy Verdun (University of Victoria, Canada) Treasurer 
4. Yvonne Gallighan (Queen’s University Belfast, UK)
5. Ken Endo (Hokkaido University, Japan)
6. Hans-Jörg Trenz (University of Copenhagen, Denmark)
7. Simona Piattoni (University of Trento, Italy)
8. Daniela Vintila (University of Leicester, UK)
9. Hartmut Mayer (University of Oxford, UK)
10. Adam Szymański (University of Warsaw, Poland)
11. Przemysław Biskup (University of Warsaw, Poland)

• After the elections held during the business meeting in Brisbane, the new members of the RC03 Executive Board are:

1. Hans-Jörg Trenz (University of Copenhagen, Denmark) Chair  
2. Sophie Meunier (Princeton University, US) Vice-Chair
3. Daniela Vintila (University of Liege, Belgium) Vice-Chair and Secretary
4. Adam Szymański (University of Warsaw, Poland)
5. Benjamin Zyla (University of Ottawa, Canada)
6. Francesco Violi (Canterbury Christ Church University, UK)
7. Tamara Tubakovic (University of Melbourne, Australia)
8. Charlotte Galpin (University of Birmingham, UK)

We are pleased to announce and introduce the newly elected members of our IPSA RC03 Executive Board:

1. Hans-Jörg Trenz (University of Copenhagen, Denmark) Chair  
2. Sophie Meunier (Princeton University, US) Vice-Chair
3. Daniela Vintila (University of Liege, Belgium) Vice-Chair and Secretary
4. Adam Szymański (University of Warsaw, Poland)
5. Benjamin Zyla (University of Ottawa, Canada)
6. Francesco Violi (Canterbury Christ Church University, UK)
7. Tamara Tubakovic (University of Melbourne, Australia)
8. Charlotte Galpin (University of Birmingham, UK)

We wish them all the best for the new mandate!

We would also like to thank the following colleagues for their outstanding service as Board members during the previous term: Carlos Closa (Spanish National Research Council); Philomena Murray (University of Melbourne); Amy Verdun (University of Victoria); Yvonne Galligan (Queen’s University Belfast); Ken Endo (Hokkaido University); Hans-Jörg Trenz (University of Copenhagen); Simona Piattoni (University of Trento); Daniela Vintila (University of Liege); Hartmut Mayer (University of Oxford); Adam Szymański (University of Warsaw); Przemysław Biskup (University of Warsaw).

We are looking for discussants for this IPSA RC03 panel on “Euroscepticism beyond the crisis”. https://wc2018.ipsa.org/events/congress/wc2018/panel/euroscepticism-beyond-crisis

If you are interested, please contact Prof. Duncan McDonnell (d.mcdonnell@griffith.edu.au)

The "Berlin Summer School in Social Sciences – Linking Theory and Empirical Research" seeks to promote young researchers by strengthening their methodological understanding in linking theory and empirical research. What role does theory play in empirical research? The importance of theoretical reflection for the guidance of empirical inquiry and for scientific innovation is widely acknowledged in the social sciences. But how can we systematically describe the dynamic relationship between theory and data? While it is common sense in the social sciences that theory plays a crucial role in shaping our perspectives on and our interpretations of the empirical reality, the concrete application of theories in new research projects is a task which is far from trivial. It involves not only an intimate acquaintance with the diverse theories of relevance for a certain field of study, but it also requires competence and creativity for their adjustment to specific empirical contexts and sensitivity for the methodological implications, theoretical choices and decisions for the analysis of empirical data. A research methodology which links theories and empirical analysis has to take into account these challenges.

“Clearing the underbrush” (Bevir) of research methodology and explicitly tackling the linking of empirical data to the wide range of theories is the main focus of the Berlin Summer School. The program is characterized by a varied format comprising lectures, workshops, seminars, and one-to-one consultations. During the summer school, participants will also have the opportunity to present and discuss their own work extensively. Participants will be provided with hands-on advice for their research designs.

The school brings together a faculty of renowned international and Berlin-based scholars. Among the confirmed international lecturers are Donatella della Porta (Scuola Normale Superiore), Steve Fleetwood (University of the West of England, Bristol), Macartan Humphreys (Columbia University/ WZB Berlin), Nikita Dhawan (University of Innsbruck), Staffan Lindberg (University of Gothenburg), and Hendrik Wagenaar (University of Sheffield).

The international summer school is open to up to 60 PhD candidates, advanced master students, and young postdocs. The call for applications is currently open. Applications can be submitted online via the application form on the summer school webpage until March 31, 2018. The decisions of the selection committee will be announced to the applicants in April. For more information: https://www.berlinsummerschool.de/program/overview/

Call for papers

IPSA World Congress of Political Science, Brisbane, 21-26 July 2018

Panel title: Differentiated integration in the European Union – Consequences for Relations with Neighbours 

Panel description: There are many interesting processes under way in the European Union nowadays. One of them is the development of differentiated integration, including the emerging division into the core and circles (or centre and peripheries). The process has gained in political weight when the member states began to look for the ways out of the euro crisis and the Brexit issue became a reality. It has consequences not only for the members of the EU but also for its relations with the third countries, particularly its neighbours. The main goal of the panel is to take a close look at the impact of the differentiated integration on the EU policies concerning its neighbours – i.e. the enlargement policy and two dimensions of the European Neighbourhood Policy as well as the relations with other EU neighbours including Russia as well as EEA countries, Switzerland and in the future possibly also the United Kingdom.

Many interesting issues are worth discussing here. Historically, we can talk about some concepts of the European integration being actually the first theoretical models of the external differentiated integration (e.g. “the concentric circles”). The crucial question is which concepts can be taken into consideration by working out the models of the external differentiated integration nowadays. Can the old proposals be refreshed and adjusted to the current situation or is it time for new ideas? Actually, there are some models of the external differentiated integration working already in the case of many EU neighbours and their relationships with the EU. However, it is worth investigating the possible development of these models in the future. It is not a purely theoretical question. The current enlargement policy and the ENP are in a crisis. The prospect of accession of new countries to the EU is very uncertain. The ENP is not effective at all. The EU is losing its influence on the neighbourhood. The question is if the development of new or modified models of the external differentiated integration can be a kind of solution to these problems. The differentiation dynamics points to the inadequacy of conceiving the EU membership in binary (zero - one) terms. In this context, the differentiated integration seems to constitute an opportunity for the stalled enlargement policy, especially when it comes to Turkey. Maybe the new models of differentiated integration can contribute also to revitalization of the relationship between the EU and ENP partners, to improve the relations with Russia and to build a new model of cooperation with the UK after Brexit. 

These and many more questions will be posed within the panel organised within the RC03 – European Unification. Welcomed are paper proposals of young and experienced scholars, dealing with both theoretical and empirical aspects of the aforementioned topics. Single case studies and comparative analyses are equally acceptable.

If you are interested in participating in the panel, please, send the paper proposal including the title and short abstract (up to 250 words) to Prof. Adam Szymanski, ar.szymanski@uw.edu.pl by 1 October 2017. You will be notified by 3 October 2017 whether your proposal has been accepted to the panel. Please, bear in mind that you will have also to submit the paper proposal to the IPSA website by signing in your individual IPSA account by 10 October 2017. 

Call for Papers International Conference "Rethinking governance in an era of global insecurities, regional tensions and rising nationalism", July 17-19, University of Melbourne: http://www.eucentre.unimelb.edu.au/events/rethinking-governance/

The  study  of  regional  governance  has  gained  momentum  in  recent  years.  The  European  Union,  often  regarded  as  the  preeminent  regional  body  is  perceived  as  not  only  being  in  crisis  but  on  the  verge  of  disintegration.  At  the  same  time,  regional  bodies  such  as  the  Association  of  Southeast  Asian  Nations  (ASEAN)  have  been  seeking  to  deepen  their  patterns  of  regional  cooperation,  though  also  experiencing  challenges  with  the  process  of  regional  integration.  Emerging  powers  in  the  global  context  and  shifting  power  dynamics  of  the  US  and  China  suggest  greater  complexity  in  tackling  global  challenges.  The  uncertainly  following  the  election  of  Donald  Trump as the next US President, the  shifting  power  dynamics  of  Russia  and  China,  and  rising  populism  all  point  to insecurities  at  the regional  and  national levels.

In the face of a strategic shift in the balance of power in international relations, might regional cooperation provide a means to manage global challenges? How might territorial disputes, nationalism, Brexit, a US ‘retreat’ and populism be tackled? These and other issues will be examined and rigorously debated. The conference is open to academics, policy makers and practitioners from across discipline areas and to interested members of the public.

Themes to be examined at the conference will include:

1. Brexit and beyond
2. The power of populism and nationalism
3. Tackling global challenges: Regional solutions?
   1. Climate change
   2. Terrorism
   3. Poverty and development
   4. Refugee crisis
4. Security, instability and conflict
5. The EU-Australia relationship
6. Global trade and contestation
7. Economic crises and wealth disparities
8. Drivers of integration and disintegration in regional bodies
9. Assessing the EU Global Strategy
10. Awkward states in regionalism

The EU Centre is now accepting panel proposals and papers. Submit by 20 February 2017 to Prof Philomena Murray, Jean Monnet Chair ad personam and EU Centre Research Director, Regional Governance.
Email: pbmurray@unimelb.edu.au

 Carlos Closa (2016). Secession from a Member State and EU Membership: the View from the Union. European Constitutional Law Review, 12, pp 240-264. doi:10.1017/S1574019616000146.

Abstract: Arguments in favour of a more explicit and clearer EU stance on secession from a member state – two different cases for secession and their implications – the inadmissibility of unilateral secession within the EU – consensual secession does not create a legal entitlement for automatic membership – the need to follow the route of Article 49 TEU – no need for a specific secession provision in EU treaties

http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=10475548&fulltextType=RA&fileId=S1574019616000146

The Research Committee investigates all issues related to the process of European integration and EU politics. This comprises inter alia theories of integration, public policy in the EU, multilevel governance, EU legitimacy and democracy, etc. Necessarily, the group keeps a pluralistic epistemological and methodological attitude and contributions from different approaches are always welcome. A basic tenet of the RC03 is that the study of EU integration, policies and politics can be approached from the conceptual, methodological and epistemological tools provided by political science sub-disciplines, such as comparative politics or political theory. This presupposes an open attitude to cooperate with other IPSA RCs. Moreover, the study of regional integration is not a phenomenon limited to Europe: similar processes can be identified elsewhere and, because of this, the RC stimulates engaging with comparative regionalism.

List of IPSA RC03 Panels- 24th World Congress of Political Science, Poznań 2016:

• [RC03.04] EU Integration and Political Parties
  Thursday 28 July 9:00-10:45
  Poznań Congress Center, Pavilion 7 (PCC-7) 1.D
  Chair: Prof. Carlos Closa
• [RC03.19] EU Citizenship, Euro-Crisis and European Identity: Recent Changes, Practices and Dynamics of the Demos-to-Be
  Tuesday 26 July 17:30-19:15
  Poznań Congress Center, Pavilion 15 (PCC-15) 3.2
  Chair: Dr. Daniela Vintila 
• [RC03.02] Conceptualizing Representative Democracy in the EU Multilevel Regime
  Tuesday 26 July 13:30-15:15
  Poznań Congress Center, Pavilion 15 (PCC-15) 2.2
  Chair: Dr. Claudia Wiesner
• [RC03.10] Euroscepticism After the 2014 European Parliament Elections

  Monday 25 July 9:00-10:45

  Poznań Congress Center, Pavilion 7 (PCC-7) 1.F

  Chair: Prof. Oscar Mazzoleni

   

  [RC03.08] Europeanization in Comparative Perspective: EU Member States and Neighbours

  Monday 25 July 13:30-15:15

  Poznań Congress Center, Pavilion 15 (PCC-15) 2.3

  Chair: Dr. Adam Szymanski

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