How does European integration change societies? Which social problems arise in the process? Does it even lead to the formation of a European society?

The sociology of European integration has been developing since the 1990s, when it became clear that European integration has not only political, economic and legal, but also societal consequences for EU member states and the societies linked to them. This core textbook provides an insight into the central theoretical perspectives (e.g. Europeanization theory, transactionalism, field theory, neoinstitutionalism, postcolonialism) and research findings of this comparatively young but dynamically evolving field, covering fundamental sociological issues and key concepts. The text examines social inequalities, intra-European mobility and European identity and how these are affected by European integration, as well as how this process is linked up with various crises and social conflicts in more recent times. Including empirical examples and case study boxes, this is the go-to text for students of sociology and European studies.

Stefanie Börner is Junior Professor of European Societies at the Department of Social Sciences at the Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg.

Sören Carlson is Research associate at the Department of Sociology at the Europa-Universität Flensburg, Germany.