The deliberative turn in integration theory

Abstract

Abstract Deliberative approaches build on a large body of normative and positive political theory, which highlights the contribution of argumentative interaction for the coherence of a polity, its social acceptance and its normative acceptability. The purpose of this overview is to show the richness of deliberative approaches in integration studies and to stimulate researchers to apply them to empirical work. Deliberative approaches are a promising alternative to more established theoretical approaches. Their comparative strength is that they provide normative guidance to integration studies, open up a new research agenda for the analysis of interaction in European politics, and offer innovative interpretations for understanding the institutional design and the political process of the EU. Keywords: arguingdeliberationintegration theorynormative theory Acknowledgements The author is grateful for research assistance by Michael Schroeter. Comments from Berthold Rittberger and an anonymous reviewer on an earlier version of this review have helped to clarify many of the issues discussed here.