“Paradigms in European studies”

The purpose of this paper is to determine, which of the independent scientific disciplines dealing with issues related to the European Union offers the research approach most apt for constructing theories of European integration and whether the basic theoretical paradigms of this discipline are sufficient to construct them. In order to achieve this, the following four perspectives of scientific disciplines have been analysed: political sciences, law, economics and sociology. The results of these considerations indicate that political sciences has the greatest influence on shaping the theories of European integration. Next, in order to the decide, whether the basic theoretical paradigms of political sciences are sufficient to construct theories of European integration, such theories as federalism, functionalism and intergovernmental approach have been analysed. To conclude, it can be said that in the case of federalism and intergovernmental approach – they are, and in the case of functionalism they are not.