How does the presence of an international institution, the European Union (EU), shape the norms and normality, policies and polities of its political environment? This research theme raises questions about both the influence and subjects of the EU – ontologically, epistemologically and methodologically. In terms of influence, the question is how does the EU shape its political environment – what is the form of power or influence that the EU exercises? In terms of subjects, the question is who does the EU shape in its political environment – member states and their societies; non-member states and their societies; or non-states and transnational civil societies?

Researching the EU’s influence on its political environment presents the researcher with a number of analytical challenges. First, the EU is a hybrid polity reflecting the contrasting demands of national, supranational and transnational actors and processes. Second, the EU is not just one actor and must be disaggregated into competing institutions, councils, directorates, states and parties. Third, the EU is not the only actor in the European and global political environments – it competes with a multitude of other global, regional, state and transnational actors. Finally, the EU is itself constituted through its actions and the structures it contributes to – it is neither pre-political nor apolitical.