Britain and European Integration

Inhaltsangabe:Abstract: The Awkward Partner (AP) Thesis is a widespread theoretical framework which explains why Britain has been called a semi-detached member of the European Union. This paper aims to take on the AP thesis by calling into question its basic tenets. To do this the thesis’ claims and initially detectable flaws have to be set out explicitly. But the main challenge shall be launched by examining the Single European Act (SEA) in detail. Resulting contradictions and the implications of the findings require further answers: Should the AP thesis be abandoned? If not how can it be revised? The argument advanced here is that the AP thesis presupposes a negative behaviour by UK governments vis-à-vis their European counterparts. This is explained by endogenous constraints that are imposed upon the core executive. These constraints are mainly caused by the divergence of domestic political forces. Slow and different rates of adaptation to the EU decision-making level are to be emphasised. While central government has already adjusted to the EU level it attempts to retain its ‘gatekeeper’ role between domestic and European political spheres. In contrast to the AP thesis this paper shall show that in the run-up to the SEA Britain was not more negative than other member states. The UK representatives made proposals and concessions as did everyone else. Despite the contradiction between theory and empirical study it shall here not be concluded to abolish the AP thesis but to amend it instead. First the role of central government should be looked at in greater detail. Secondly a link to Liberal Intergovernmentalism is proposed as a way forward. Some inconsistencies of the current framework could thereby be resolved. However this would also mean to drop all negative connotations if not the name of the thesis. Zusammenfassung: Die „These vom Unangenehmen Partner“ ist ein weit verbreitetes theoretisches Modell das erklärt warum Großbritannien oft als