TRONDAL, Jarle
Is there any social constructivist - istitutionalist divide? unpacking social mechanisms affecting representational roles among EU decision-makers - February 2001
Whereas a constructivist turn has occurred in recent international relations theory, a institutionalist turn has ocurred in organization theories of the 1980`s and 1990`s. Social constructivism and organization theory exhibit important similarities as regards the basic underlying social mechanisms. Consequently, one rationale for comparing these two strands of argument rests on the observation that (i) some of the underlying social mechanisms are nearly identical, and (ii) they address the same dependent variables, i.e. identity formation and role enactment. The central question raised is how cognitive and integrative mechanisms may account for the role and identity percecptions evoked by government officials. Moreover, the frame of reference for the current discussion is national government officials participating on Commission expert committees and Council working parties. Building on survey and internview data, the current study shows that officials attending Commission expert committees tend to evoke expert roles more strongly than officials attending Council workin parties. Moreover, supranational allegiances are enacted strongly among officials devoting a great deal of time an energy towards participating on these committees
Decision Behavior
EU Committees
Identities
Organization theory
Role Perceptions
Social Constructivism
Is there any social constructivist - istitutionalist divide? unpacking social mechanisms affecting representational roles among EU decision-makers - February 2001
Whereas a constructivist turn has occurred in recent international relations theory, a institutionalist turn has ocurred in organization theories of the 1980`s and 1990`s. Social constructivism and organization theory exhibit important similarities as regards the basic underlying social mechanisms. Consequently, one rationale for comparing these two strands of argument rests on the observation that (i) some of the underlying social mechanisms are nearly identical, and (ii) they address the same dependent variables, i.e. identity formation and role enactment. The central question raised is how cognitive and integrative mechanisms may account for the role and identity percecptions evoked by government officials. Moreover, the frame of reference for the current discussion is national government officials participating on Commission expert committees and Council working parties. Building on survey and internview data, the current study shows that officials attending Commission expert committees tend to evoke expert roles more strongly than officials attending Council workin parties. Moreover, supranational allegiances are enacted strongly among officials devoting a great deal of time an energy towards participating on these committees
Decision Behavior
EU Committees
Identities
Organization theory
Role Perceptions
Social Constructivism
