Europeanization, Integration and Identity: A Social Constructivist Fusion Perspective on Norway(Routledge Advances in European Politics)

This book analyses how domestic and European structures impact on national actors’ identities, interests and foreign policy practices. Employing Norway as the case study area, the author uses this nation as an example to assess Europeanization and identity politics across the European Union (EU). Utilising an original and innovative approach called `social constructivist fusion perspective’, the author addresses Europeanization across several key factors. The author assesses the influence of the EU on `half-way member countries’, and the impact of identity politics and domestic structures, which factors contribute to or hinder Europeanization, and attempts to empirically measure Europeanization at the actor level. It analyses the impact of domestic and European structures on the identities, interests, attitudes and foreign policy practices of the Norwegian policy-makers. Whilst contributing to knowledge and literature on how constructivist approaches can be utilized in empirical studies of political elites, this book goes beyond theory to demonstrate that Europeanization is not only institutional, and provides evidence of the influence of identity politics. Europeanization, Integration and Identity will be or interest to students, scholars and policy-makers in the field of European Union politics, international relations, social constructivism and Scandinavian politics.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction 2. Theoretical Framework 3. Foreign and Security Policy 4. Justice and Home Affairs Policy 5. Energy Policy 6. Agricultural and Food Safety Policy 7. Fisheries Policy 8. External Validations 9. Conclusion

About the Author :
Gamze Tanil is Department Chair of International Relations and Vice Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences at Istanbul Arel University, Turkey, and Associated Fellow in Political Science at Karlstad University, Sweden.

Review :
"This thorough scholarship, drawn from careful research, covers an important element in the Europeanization process: when identity cuts across the integration process. Gamze Tanil's study of why Norway has remained 'Eurosceptic' illuminates the wider question of European integration." - Clive Archer, Emeritus Professor, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. "Tanil's book contributes significantly to our knowledge and understanding of the EU's influence in a non-member country and how this influence is mediated through officials rather than politicians. Her study also demonstrates the fruitfulness of applying a social constructionist perspective on the relationship between such diverse actors as the EU and Norway" - Hans Loden, Associate Professor in Political Science, Karlstad University, Sweden. "A rigorous, well-researched and highly stimulating book that should be read by all those interested in Nordic politics, European integration and International Relations alike. With the concept of a social constructivist fusion perspective, Gamze Tanil not only offers new ways of understanding how fusion approaches to European integration can help us to understand the values of national policy-makers when handling EU questions, but her work also helps to address one of the major critiques of social constructivism. Namely how can it be used in an operational setting and applied in practice. In addition by taking the case of Norwegian policy-makers, Dr Tanil demonstrates how far the pressures of European integration go in shaping the preferences and policies of non-EU member states. Very good, very good indeed" - Professor Lee Miles, Loughborough University, UK and Karlstad University, Sweden