The religious factor in the context of the theories of European integration

  • Sergei A. Mudrov Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

Abstract

This article analyses strong and weak aspects of the principal theories of European integration – neofunctionalism, liberal intergovernmentalism and social constructivism. The emphasis is on the need to reflect the role of religion in the process of European integration. The most consistent and convincing theory in this context may seem to be the liberal intergovernmentalism. However, in connection with the enlargement of the European Union in 2004 and 2007, social constructivism acquired primary importance, when the role of non-economic factors and the construction of identity turned out to be especially important. At the same time, although social constructivists brought the notions of identity and non-state actors into the analysis of European integration, they have largely ignored the important contribution of churches to this process. It is noted that social constructivism can, in principle, be used to create a theoretical framework for the analysis of the role of religious institutions in European integration, at the same time the introduction of a separate, religious approach to integration would add an important dimension to the understanding of unification processes in Europe.

Author Biography

Sergei A. Mudrov, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

PhD (sociology), docent; postdoctoral research fellow at the department of sociology, faculty of philosophy and social sciences

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Published
2024-12-03
Keywords: European integration, religion, neofunctionalism, liberal intergovernmentalism, social constructivism
How to Cite
Mudrov, S. A. (2024). The religious factor in the context of the theories of European integration. Journal of the Belarusian State University. Sociology, 4, 59-67. Retrieved from https://journals.bsu.by/index.php/sociology/article/view/6697
Issue
No 4 (2024): Journal of the Belarusian State University. Sociology
Section
To Know so that to Foresee...

Copyright (c) 2024 Journal of the Belarusian State University. Sociology

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