New institutionalism and policy change in the European Union

This essay examines the role of institutions in policy change in the European Union. The timing of policy change is attributed to the "pull" of increasing supranational competence and the "push" of converging practices in the international political economy of transport. The nature of change is attributed to three factors: the existence of both state and supranational institutional environments, the structure of the supranational institutions (privileging certain actors and ideas over others), and the agency role played by supranational institutions. The essay applies neo-institutional theories to this sector, finding that historical/sociological institutionalism is best suited to explaining change, though elements of rational choice institutionalism are also important.