This article, written by an historian, focuses on the work of Andrew Moravcsik, a prominent and often controversial political scientist.[1] It analyses the development of his theory of European integration through five of his publications. It then moves on to comment on his method of working and use of sources. The article concludes that Moravcsik’s very practice as a social scientist who begins with forming theory and then moves to test it empirically causes problems for historians who seek to engage with his work. His source use is also problematic from the perspective of the historian. However, the challenging and provocative nature of Moravcsik’s work ultimately forces us to be better historians.

[1] The author is an historian, recovering from two years of formal training in political science.

Contents:

1. Abstract

2. Evolution of a theory

1. Negotiating the Single European Act: National Interests and Conventional Statecraft in the European Community
2. Preferences and Power in the European Community: A Liberal Intergovernmentalist Approach
3. Explaining the Treaty of Amsterdam: Interests, Influence, Institutions
4. A New Statecraft? Supranational Entrepreneurs and International Co-operation
5. What Can We Learn from the Collapse of the European Constitutional Project?

3. Method

1. Sources
2. Source choice
3. Verifiability
4. Self-citation

4. Conclusions