Abstract

On one hand, supranationalism is a level of international cooperation while on the other hand it is a model of institutional structure present in the European studies, or, in a broader view, in international relationships, as well as a method of cooperation, or integration rather, which depends on positioning the international interactions on the supranational level. The purpose of this article is to examine supranational level higher than inter-state level in the European integration. Particular focus is given to models of supranationalism and its mechanics of creation in several stages: establishing of international institutions, delegating national competences and emancipation of delegated powers. Author adopts the “deliberative” model of supranationalism. Since supranationalism is a third dimension between the national state and international cooperation and more importantly, it is intentionally and voluntarily created (as a result of tests, experiments and research) by national states, it means that it offers better, that is, more effective instruments to execute the state’s preferences than the ones that are traditionally used by national states. At last supranational community is a project that is more challenging than “unity”, but it is also more ambiguous. It is more challenging because it redefines the notion of borders among nations and between the nation and the state, or even within the nation itself. The project is more radical because, on one hand, it demands more from the actors of such community but, on the other hand, it imposes more limitations on them.

Key words: International relations, theory of international relations, European integration, supranationalism, theory of European integration