New Institutionalism in Europeanization Research: Positivist or Scientific Realist Metatheory Synthesis?

Combination of europeanization and arguments of rational, sociological (constructivist) and historical institutionalism has become an important and frequently used part of research. To include all three approaches in a coherent research framework is however not axiomatic, as namely rationalism and constructivism are theories arising from different premises. Aim of the introduced text is to open a debate about compatibility og these concepts and to offer alternatives on how new institutionalism theories can be reflected and synthesized on metatheoretical level within one research. Apart from positivist position prevailing in practical research, a possible dialogue of theories based on scientific realism viewpoint will be introduced. Conclusion hereof is not the argument that one way of integration is more suitable than others but a claim that appropriate attention should be drawn to this seemingly abstract part of research.