The European Union is a distinctly differentiated political system. While analyses of the forms and reasons for this phenomenon have developed and sharpened over the last years, EU3D research takes a further step by systematically examining the relations between differentiation, dominance and democracy and to inform on the democratic potentials and the dominance pitfalls of differentiation in today’s EU.
Read also: Summary of the workshop differentiation and external dominance
As part of the overall research theme of WP3, this workshop aims to specifically address the external dimension of this process. What is the relation between internal and external differentiation? What influence do third countries, and more specifically external hegemons have on the process of differentiation? And, finally, how do external dominance, differentiation and democracy relate? To answer these questions, this workshop engages in a comparative approach from two angles. From the first angle, the papers will analyse the relationship between the EU and associated countries such as the UK and compare these relations with those the EU entertains with other regional organisations such as EFTA. A second series of papers will analyse differentiation and dominance with regard to the external relations of three regional organisations: EU, Mercosur and ASEAN. More specifically, the papers address the question pertaining to clarify the conditions under which differentiation (internal and external) eases or prevents dominance.
The workshop will first focus on Brexit and EFTA. How to understand the post-Brexit agreement between the EU and the UK in relation to the EU’s other arrangements with affiliated non-members? Can the UK’s status in relation to the EU be seen as some form of differentiated status rather than an outright separation from the EU? To what extent do Scotland and Northern Ireland seek an EU affiliation based on internal UK differentiation? What lessons can we discern from Canada, Switzerland and Norway for the future relations between the UK and the EU? The Norway model has been presented as a case of voluntary submission to EU hegemony. Does hegemony also figure in EU – UK relations? How could the dimension of dominance play out in the future relations between the UK and the EU?
The second part of the workshop is dedicated to differentiation in comparative regional integration. Discussions will be engaged with experts to clarify the relation between differentiation and external dominance especially in non-EU contexts. The workshop will offer systematic comparisons between external hegemonic influence on the three regional organisations under scrutiny: EU, ASEAN and Mercosur.
Programme
9.00 – 9.15 Opening statement
Sabine Saurugger, Professor of Political Science, Director of Sciences Po Grenoble
9.15 – 12.00 Session 1: The EU and the future relations with the UK
Federico Fabbrini, School of Law & Government of Dublin City University. Brexit Institute, Dublin City University
Christopher Lord, ARENA Centre for European Studies, University of Oslo | Hard Brexit. A new internal and external equilibrium or just a really bad divorce?
John Erik Fossum, ARENA Centre for European Studies, University of Oslo | What lessons can we discern for post-Brexit UK from Norway’s EU relationship?
Discussant: Timon Salomonson, Head of UK Division, EEAS
12.00 – 13.00 Lunch break
13.00 – 17.00 Session 2: Differentiation and external dominance in the EU, ASEAN and Mercosur
Sabine Saurugger & Cécile Pelaudeix, PACTE Sciences Po Grenoble | Differentiation and external dominance: the EU case with comparative insights from ASEAN and Mercosur
Mark Beeson, University of Western Australia
Marcelo de Almeida Medeiros, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, UFPE (Recife – Brasil) | Differentiation and External Dominance: The Case of Mercosur
Discussant: John Erik Fossum, ARENA Centre for European Studies, University of Oslo
17.00 Concluding remarks
Sabine Saurugger, Professor of Political Science, Director of Sciences Po Grenoble & John Erik Fossum, ARENA Centre for European Studies, University of Oslo
The event is online and requires registration. Further enquiries may be directed at Cécile Pelaudeix.
