European Integration and Politicization of Europe Trough Ideational Entrepreneurs

    • xavier
    • Presentation speakers
      • Xavier Carpentier Tanguy , Centre Virtuel de la Connaissance sur l'Europe, Luxembourg

    Abstract:
    As demonstrated, for instance, during the campaign of the first EU constitutional referendum, external influences on national as on European institutions can be proved as effective and able to shape the EU. The paper aims to examine the production and circulation of ideas across networks of non-state organizations (Think Tanks, NGOs, Foundations) spanning the European Area and willing to influence EU institutions. Precisely it aims to trace the creation and animation of intellectual and/or entrepreneurial expertise on policy-making. Generally funded by private and public sources, these networks are organizational actors specialized in gathering and assembling forms of authority conferred by the more established institutions of academics, politics, business and the media. Based on broad bodies of knowledge they present themselves as advisors with capacities to think ‘out of the box’ at problem-solving levels. The kinds of knowledge they assemble and disseminate are designed for the ‘common Good’ which means they are also ideological based and contribute to politicize the debates. Hybrid interstitial policy fields are emerging, where a variety of ideational entrepreneurs already play a major role in the conception and implementation of policy ideas: as such they are active actors to participation of the politicization of the EU, contributing to debates but also challenging Institutions. The paper will present two case studies, examining where the Commission has taken into account requests formulated by the think tank community: first, regarding the Initiative for Transparency. We also propose to examine the role played by networks of knowledge to implement ideas and to advice the EU institutions on the European foreign policy. The paper aims, consequently, to assess the relevance of democratic norms such as transparency, accountability and participation of policy-making institutions as far as it concerns the kind of knowledge produced or facilitated by these actors. Finally, it aims to study the interplay of negotiations between European players at all scales and responsibility.