Constructive Ambiguity : Comparing the EU's Energy and Defence Policies

Jegen, Maya et Mérand, Frédéric (2014). « Constructive Ambiguity : Comparing the EU's Energy and Defence Policies ». West European Politics, 37(1), pp. 182-203.

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Résumé

This article explores the paradox of constructive ambiguity. Based on a focused, longitudinal comparison of the European Union’s energy and defense policies, we analyze the role played by strategies of ambiguity in European integration. Ambiguity is found to be an attractive strategy for political entrepreneurs when member state preferences are heterogeneous and the EU’s legal basis is weak. It is likely to be effective, however, only if it is embedded in an institutional opportunity structure -, that is, a formal-legal context - that entrepreneurs can fold into their strategic repertoire of ideas. While ambiguity can be strategic in circumstances where clarity would create strong opposition, it is not sufficient to entrench a European policy if it does not rest on an institutional basis. This suggests that European political entrepreneurs should be wary of relying on coalition building by ambiguity only.

Type:	Article de revue scientifique
Mots-clés ou Sujets:	European Union, energy policy, defense policy, ideas, Stanley Hoffmann
Unité d'appartenance:	Faculté de science politique et de droit > Département de science politique
Déposé par:	Maya Jegen
Date de dépôt:	05 sept. 2017 13:44
Dernière modification:	05 sept. 2017 13:44
Adresse URL :	http://archipel.uqam.ca/id/eprint/10102

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