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The Diplomacy of Opting Out: A Bourdieudian Approach to National Integration Strategies*
Author(s) -
ADLERNISSEN REBECCA
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
jcms: journal of common market studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.54
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1468-5965
pISSN - 0021-9886
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-5965.2008.00799.x
Subject(s) - diplomacy , danish , opting out , autonomy , dilemma , opt out , political science , public administration , opt in email , political economy , law , sociology , economics , business , computer science , computer security , advertising , philosophy , linguistics , epistemology , politics , keynesian economics
How are controversial national opt‐outs managed and perceived in the EU? This article argues that the United Kingdom and Denmark compensate diplomatically for the exclusionary effects of their exemptions. A Bourdieudian approach to national diplomacy in the EU is developed to explore how British and Danish officials handle their opt‐outs. By drawing on extensive interview data, it is demonstrated that the two opt‐out champions employ various sophisticated strategies to overcome the dilemma between autonomy and influence. Some diplomatic strategies reduce marginalization while others enhance it. National opt‐outs are ambiguous attempts at avoiding further European integration.