Table I

Typology of research on the impact of European integration

Rational Institutionalism Sociological Institutionalism
Level of analysis Macro/
Institutional structure

I. European institutions exert pressures on national institutions and actors

III. European institutions influence the construction of identities and interests of national and transnational actors

Micro/
Actor

II. Faced with institutional constraints or opportunities, actors react through strategic interaction

IV. Normative and cognitive adaptation of the actor in response to institutional change

 
 
 
 
 
 

Table II

Characteristics of the different types of usage

Element used Type of actors Political Objective
Strategic usage Institutions
Instruments
Financing		 Institutional actors Resource mobilisation
Cognitive usage Ideas Political Entrepreneurs
Advocacy coalitions
Public policy networks		 Argumentation
Framing of political action
Legitimating usage Discursive references
Public space

Politicians

 Justification
Deliberation
 
 
 

Table III

Variations of usage in practice

Results
No effect Short-term effect Long-term effect
Strategic

Institutions

 POSITIONING:
Institutional 		INFLUENCE:
Increased attention		 INFLUENCE:
Increased legitimacy of an actor or constitution of a new actor
Instruments POSITIONING:
Non intention of incurring change 		INFLUENCE:
Change of a policy orientation		 INFLUENCE:
Paradigm change concerning a policy, political sector or a participatory structure
Financing POSITIONING:
Prestige 		POSITIONING:
Increased capacity for action		 INFLUENCE:
Increased legitimacy of an actor or constitution of a new actor
Cognitive Ideas POSITIONING / JUSTIFICATION:
Alibi, argument		 INFLUENCE:
Cognitive or normative framing of policy 		INFLUENCE:
Paradigm change concerning a policy, a political sector or a participatory structure
Legitimation Discursive reference POSITIONING / JUSTIFICATION:
Alibi, argument		 JUSTIFICATION:
Legitimation of a decision		 JUSTIFICATION:
Legitimation of a political orientation
Public sphere POSITIONING:
«Logic of membership» 		INFLUENCE:
Increased attention		 INFLUENCE:
Increased legitimacy of an actor or constitution of a new actor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Figure 1

Usage and political stakes

Figure 1
©2003 by Jacquot/Woll
formated and tagged by MN, 18.12.2003