Theory Of Segmented Polities: The European Union In Perspective

Batora, Jozef (Webster Vienna Private University And Comenius University Bratislava) Fossum, John Erik (University Of Oslo) Trondal, Jarle (University Of Agder, University Of Oslo And University Of California)

ISBN 10: 1009589334 / ISBN 13: 9781009589338

Published by Cambridge University Press, 2026

About this Item

75 pages. 6.00x0.31x9.00 inches. In Stock.

Seller Inventory # x-1009589334

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Theory Of Segmented Polities: The European Union In Perspective
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication Date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1009589334
• ISBN 13: 9781009589338
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Brand New
• Weight: 0.3 kilograms

About this title

Synopsis

This Element introduces the theory of segmented polity to address the misfit between dominant state-centric political theories and the hybrid realities of contemporary governance. Segmented polities are contested, partial, and constrained but nonetheless develop autonomous policymaking capacities and distinct social constituencies. The EU exemplifies this form, blending supranational and intergovernmental traits within a statist political order. Grounded in organization theory and institutionalism, the Element provides empirical analysis of the internal market and security segments showing how segmented polities operate across functional domains and generate bounded epistemic communities. While enabling policy efficiency, they also exhibit democratic deficits. The Element presents segmented polities as evolutionary responses to governance complexity and outlines implications for political science, international relations, European integration theory, and democracy studies, and proposes a research agenda focused on longitudinal, actor-based, and comparative studies of polity segmentation beyond the EU. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.