Europe with Some Regions’: Weaknesses of the Multilevel Governance Theory in Explaining EU Structural Policy

The author analyses the flaws of the multilevel governance theory, which seeks to assert itself as a dominant theory of European integration. The multilevel governance theory begun its life in the work of Gary Marks, who juxtaposed it to functionalist and intergovernmental theories. The first part of this paper provides a detailed outline of the multilevel governance theory through the work of Gary Marks and other theorists. The theory emerged primarily as an account of the European Union structural policy, but it acquired a general applicability through subsequent theoretical and methodological developments. The multilevel governance theory is then subjected to a three-level critique from the intergovernmental perspective. The quantitative level of the critique seeks to demonstrate the intergovernmental character of the structural policy through the emergence and evolution of Structural Funds. The institutional level of the critique analyses key actors at the supranational and subnational levels. It shows that the multilevel governance theory prejudged the institutional significance and actual political influence of particular institutions, above all, the European Commission and regional authorities. The final level of the critique is qualitative and is focused on the policy process, seeking to demonstrate the unchanged intergovernmental character of EU structural policy. Nation states and their central governments still play a dominant role in domestic and supranational (European) affairs.