F59 - International Relations and International Political Economy: OtherReturn

Combination of europeanization and arguments of rational, sociological (constructivist) and historical institutionalism has become an important and frequently used part of research. To include all three approaches in a coherent research framework is however not axiomatic, as namely rationalism and constructivism are theories arising from different premises. Aim of the introduced text is to open a debate about compatibility og these concepts and to offer alternatives on how new institutionalism theories can be reflected and synthesized on metatheoretical level within one research. Apart from positivist position prevailing in practical research, a possible dialogue of theories based on scientific realism viewpoint will be introduced. Conclusion hereof is not the argument that one way of integration is more suitable than others but a claim that appropriate attention should be drawn to this seemingly abstract part of research.

This paper assesses the impact of the Lisbon Treaty reform of the EU foreign policy on the actorness of the EU. It is because Europe as a global actor is one of the principal issues of the Treaty of Lisbon. Owing to a growing role of the EU in the world politics, the actorness of the EU has been an issue for the European studies as well as for the international relations theories in past few years. Therefore, this paper analyses the prospective contribution of the newly created post of the High Representative of the Union for the foreign affairs and security policy, newly established European External Action Service, in brief also of the introduction of single legal personality of the EU and the possibility of reinforced cooperation amongst a smaller group of Member States within the Common security and Defence policy to enhancing the EU's role as a global actor in the field of foreign policy. The analysis draws upon the criteria set by the theories of actorness, first introduced in the 1970's.