The Europeanization of UK Government: from Quiet Revolution to Explicit Step-Change?

In this paper we review – from a UK perspective – how the UK government and its policy process have adapted to European integration. Has adaptation been a quiet revolution, a step‐change, or both? In exploring this question we draw upon the conceptual literature of Europeanization. We employ it to s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Public administration (London) 2005-12, Vol.83 (4), p.861-890
Main Authors: Bulmer, Simon, Burch, Martin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation
Adaptation to change
Civil service
Development
European integration
European Union
Europeanization
Foreign policy
Foreign relations
Government
Iraq
Large scale integration
Organizational change
Political behavior
Political parties
Public Policy
Public Support
Studies
Treaties
United Kingdom
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Summary:In this paper we review – from a UK perspective – how the UK government and its policy process have adapted to European integration. Has adaptation been a quiet revolution, a step‐change, or both? In exploring this question we draw upon the conceptual literature of Europeanization. We employ it to shed light on the longer‐term pattern of UK adaptation as well as to put into context the domestic changes currently under way. Our argument is that a step‐change is under way in the Europeanization of the UK government. However, at the end of the paper we will reflect on how this development remains over‐shadowed by broader circumstances: the continued weak public support for the EU and the divisions which emerged with key EU partners from the UK's policy over Iraq.
ISSN:0033-3298
1467-9299
DOI:10.1111/j.0033-3298.2005.00481.x