GREVE, Morten F <br/><br/>
Treaty reform as constitutional politics :  a longitudinal view 

 -  February 2002 
<br/><br/> Some analysis prefer to see the European Union's treaty reforms as a string of bargains between self-interested member state governments. This however, is simplistic and reflects the continuing legacy of an outdated 'Hobbesian' conception of modern society. In order to gain a more convincing understanding of the dynamics of European treaty reform it is necessary adapt and explicity 'non-hobbesian' position which takes seriously modern society's high level of functionally differentiated complexity. A systems-theoretical approach to treaty reform is presented which seen reform processes as instances of an emergent constitutional politics in a polycentric European polity. Next, the article focuses on the main phases in the historical development of the structural coupling between European law and politics 
<br/><br/><label>Subjects--Topical Terms: </label><br/>Área de Livre Comércio<br/>Reforma Administrativa<br/>Direito Constitucional<br/>Legislação<br/>Política<br/> Relações Internacionais
<br/><br/><label>Subjects--Geographic Terms: </label><br/>Europa