ABSTRACT
This chapter dedicates to the ‘grand theories’, which focus on explaining the process of European integration. It describes neo-functionalism, intergovernmentalism and federalism. It briefly presents the development of these meta theories during the post-Maastricht era, in particular post-functionalism and new intergovernmentalism. The chapter deals with the so-called ‘normalization’ of the European Union (EU) in political science, by describing the various approaches and middle-range theories drawing on broader political science literatures to analyse the EU as a political system. It briefly introduces the reader to new institutionalism, constructivism, to sociological and governance approaches in European studies but also to recent theoretical developments in International Relations. The chapter focuses on the topic of Europeanization as one particular strand of research that examines the impact of the EU on its Member States and vice-versa. It also discusses the best way to present and analyse the EU political system taking all these elements into account.
