Date of Award
8-2014
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Political Science
Advisor(s)
Margaret Hermann
Keywords
Council Presidency, European Integration, European Union, Presidency Effect, Role Theory, United Kingdom
Subject Categories
Political Science | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Abstract
From humble beginnings with the merely managerial duties of a formal Chair, the rotating Council Presidency of the European Union (EU) has evolved into a crucial player in the context of EU decision making, although its impact remains largely unaddressed in accounts of EU output. More than from its formal job description, the rotating Presidency's four roles derive from the (informal) decision dynamics of the Council and the expectations it faces from its fellow Council members and the other EU institutions. Together, these factors can motivate the member state holding the Presidency to wield every tool at its disposal and even, where necessary, unilaterally sacrifice its own national interest, to achieve agreement in the Council, in effect biasing the incumbent in favor of further European integration. This study uses "hard case"-evidence from United Kingdom (UK) Council Presidencies to test the predictions of this "Presidency effect" (PE) about member state behavior and its consequences for overall decision outcomes.
Access
Open Access
Recommended Citation
Allerkamp, Doreen K., "The Presidency Effect" (2014). Dissertations - ALL. 139.
https://surface.syr.edu/etd/139
