Authors meet critics: Policy dynamics in the European Union

Abstract

This authors-meet-critics panel addresses the issues raised by the recent Cambridge Element "Policy Dynamics in the European Union" (Thomann, Weaver & Zgaga 2026). Research on the EU has proposed various frameworks to explore why domestic policy outputs across EU member states vary or converge. This volume develops an actor-centered typology of policy dynamics—durable constellations of political actors and causal mechanisms producing distinctive policy consequences over time—in the “EU policymaking space.” The authors identify conditions that make specific policy dynamics such as harmonization, creeping competences, member-state non-compliance, failing forward and differentiated implementation more or less likely to emerge or decline, in either strong or muted forms. The authors argue that sector-specific policy dynamics will have an impact only if resourceful, boundedly rational actors (governments, interest groups, NGOs) with the incentives, capacity, and leverage to build coalitions use them to achieve political, policy, and institutional goals. Following a presentation by two of the co-authors, panelists will discuss the strengths and shortcomings of the policy dynamics approach as well as potential extensions and strategies for empirical testing of the framework.

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Discussant at book panel "Authors-meet critics: Policy dynamics in the European Union"	View Paper Details
Discussant at book panel "Authors-meet critics: Policy dynamics in the European Union"	View Paper Details
Discussant at book panel "Authors-meet critics: Policy dynamics in the European Union"	View Paper Details
Discussant at book panel "Authors-meet critics: Policy dynamics in the European Union"	View Paper Details
Discussant at book panel "Authors-meet critics: Policy dynamics in the European Union"	View Paper Details