“Understanding Multilevel Complexity: The European Community’s Role in International Organisations and International Treaties”

Conzelmann, Thomas and Knodt, Michèle. (1999) “Understanding Multilevel Complexity: The European Community’s Role in International Organisations and International Treaties” . In European Union Studies Association (EUSA) > Biennial Conference > 1999 (6th), June 2-5, 1999, pages 21, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Abstract

In this paper, we start from the hypothesis that the ‘qualitative leap’ which would give the EU a state-like character is not to be expected in the overseeable future. We accord with those who emphasize the sui generis character of the EU and work with the concept of ‘multi-level governance’ (Jachtenfuchs and Kohler-Koch 1996, Kohler-Koch 1998, 1998a). The concept has become common currency in analyses of the internal development of the EU, but has been used relatively little for understanding the international role of the EU. We seek to develop an understanding of how the concept of multi-level governance can be extended to the international sphere and what effects the international embeddedness of the EU has for its internal institutional structure and policies. Before we can do so, however, we have to clarify our use of the term multi-level governance, and what it exactly means to incorporate international factors into the concept of multi-level governance.