From Western to Pan-European Integration. Periodization Proposals on its Driving Forces, Reasons, Motives, Goals and Effects

The history of European integration is full of events and complexity. The question arises how its development can be captured, structured and understood. This article cites previous findings, offers further considerations, and makes suggestions. First, basic and large-scale periodization proposals are given, before selected chronologically based and specified patterns of interpretation are presented in smaller-scale steps, in order to develop a three-large-phase model in greater depth, and ultimately to arrive at definitions. Historical as well as political approaches are taken up and summarized, especially since Union studies can gain through interdisciplinarity.