General Introduction: Linking Levels of Theory and Methodological Approaches

This book investigates the role of theory in an understanding and explanation of European integration and Europeanization. Through a historical study of European integration, treaty developments and studies of Europeanization in terms of financial services this text illustrates different levels of theory in relation to cause and effect, verification, reliability, generalization and prediction. In the social sciences it is generally accepted that positivist prediction is difficult to achieve and with this in mind they should pursue controlled generalization or idealized prediction.