Projects / Programmes
Integral Theory of Future of the European Union
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 5.05.00 |
Social sciences |
Law |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| S110 |
Social sciences |
Juridical sciences |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 5.05 |
Social Sciences |
Law |
European union, constitutional theory, future, constitutional design, existential crisis of the integration
Researchers (12)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
What future is there for the European Union and how to bring it about? The main question of this research project is of a huge theoretical and practical importance. It sits at the core of national and supranational political debates and has, necessarily, also trickled down to the common people. Essentially, this is the political question of the European Union. It concerns the very viability of the integration process, now and in the future. Political answers are directed to practices, eg to affect actual institutional changes. However, they can only do so successfully, subject to other constraints of the process of social construction of reality, if they are informed by coherent theories. The project has three scientific objectives. First, to dig for and elucidate the underlying, background theories that have been informing the different approaches to the question of the object and purpose of the European Union and the modalities of its existence in the future. Second, to select among these theories the most compelling one, in terms of its descriptive accuracy, explanatory persuasiveness and normative attractiveness. Third, to provide on its basis for a new constitutional design of the European Union, which will enable the latter to respond to the most burning practical challenges of the integration in the future: the constitutional challenges; the economic challenges, the challenges of security and defense; as well as finally the ethical challenges of justice inside the European Union.
This research project in constitutional theory will be conducted by an interdisciplinary research group on the basis of an interdisciplinary, inclusive methodological approach and is destined to result in a highly original integral theory of the future of the EU. Integral in the sense of being a constitutional theory of European integration, which heavily draws on the institutional, economic, security and defense and philosophical theoretical findings as applied to the EU. The project will have two clearly identifiable, distinct parts: the theoretical part and the applicative part, characterized by disparate methodological approaches and ambitions. The dual character of the project: its theoretical and applicative part provides for a mechanism of reflective equilibrium, which will facilitate the project’s results by its constant oscillation between theory and practical challenges. As the duration of the project is 36 months, it will be broken down, into three stages.
Stage 1 will last from 0 – 9 months and will consist of mapping out very precisely the conceptual substance and borders of the three visions of the EU and of the three disparate theories of the EU they have been informed with. Stage 2 will last from 10 – 21 months and will concentrate on the evaluation of the hence presented theories and visions of the EU in light of the practical challenges posed to the EU. Stage 3 will, eventually, last from 22 to 36 months. This will mark the beginning of the second, eg applicative part of the project, which is anticipated to materialize in a concrete set of constitutional and institutional prescriptions for the EU’s functioning in the future. Concrete proposals for the reform of the constitutional, institutional, economic, security/defense and ethical structure of the integration will be laid down. The project will, eventually, deepen, take further and adapt to the changed contemporary practical context of the EU the classical theoretical works, from the apex of the EU constitutional theory in the early 2000s, and thereby provide an impetus for a relaunch of this scholarly discourse with important consequences for academia as well as for students and practitioners of EU law.
Significance for science
1. The proposed topic of a research proposal is of a prime scientific and political importance for the European Union. Never before in the history of European integration there has been a greater need for original theories, fresh conceptual frameworks and concepts to be translated in the improvement of the actual practices of the European Union. The latter has found itself in a political limbo. This is not only due the insurmountable conflict of interests between the North and the South; the East and the West; the center and the periphery; the national and supranational planes; it is also not just due to the lack of a political will to push the reformist steps forward.
2. It is, above all, due to the epistemic gap; due to the inadequacy of the contemporary knowledge and the failure of the existing theories to adapt to the new practices and to shape them accordingly in their image. Once more, we have found ourselves in a situation in which theories have been surpassed by practices. The latter’s many failures and crises confirm that it has been high time for a theoretical catch-up. This research is therefore highly topical and certainly carries a huge potential for an original contribution in the respective scholarly field of EU studies.
3. Furthermore, in its applicative part it is pregnant with promises of making concrete policy prescriptions that could assist the Slovenian and supranational stake-holders in devising their political responses to the crises of the Union and to undertake the necessary reforms. This is especially relevant with regard to the forthcoming Slovenian presidency to the Council of Ministers in 2021, which will require, other than ad hoc policy reactions, also stipulating a long term vision of the EU. In short, the research project is envisaged as an original scholarly contribution, intended of making a transnational impact in the constitutional practices of the European Union and its member states.
Significance for the country
1. The proposed topic of a research proposal is of a prime scientific and political importance for the European Union. Never before in the history of European integration there has been a greater need for original theories, fresh conceptual frameworks and concepts to be translated in the improvement of the actual practices of the European Union. The latter has found itself in a political limbo. This is not only due the insurmountable conflict of interests between the North and the South; the East and the West; the center and the periphery; the national and supranational planes; it is also not just due to the lack of a political will to push the reformist steps forward.
2. It is, above all, due to the epistemic gap; due to the inadequacy of the contemporary knowledge and the failure of the existing theories to adapt to the new practices and to shape them accordingly in their image. Once more, we have found ourselves in a situation in which theories have been surpassed by practices. The latter’s many failures and crises confirm that it has been high time for a theoretical catch-up. This research is therefore highly topical and certainly carries a huge potential for an original contribution in the respective scholarly field of EU studies.
3. Furthermore, in its applicative part it is pregnant with promises of making concrete policy prescriptions that could assist the Slovenian and supranational stake-holders in devising their political responses to the crises of the Union and to undertake the necessary reforms. This is especially relevant with regard to the forthcoming Slovenian presidency to the Council of Ministers in 2021, which will require, other than ad hoc policy reactions, also stipulating a long term vision of the EU. In short, the research project is envisaged as an original scholarly contribution, intended of making a transnational impact in the constitutional practices of the European Union and its member states.
Most important scientific results
Interim report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
