The inter-play between formal and informal practices

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
This article deals with the interaction between formal and informal politics in the EU. First of all, it argues that the EU is a special setting for such interaction, as compared to other political systems, as a result of its speedy institutional development and multi-layered nature. Then, it briefly addresses new institutionalist and governance approaches to informality, as well as the strategic motivations behind informal practices. Four such strategies are distinguished. At the co-operative end of the spectrum informal practices may be intended either as a lubricant for applying existing rules or as an experimental garden for trying out new rules. More conflictual strategies may aim at re-directing policy substance or the application of existing rules (critical voice) or rather at circumventing those rules. On that basis, the article presents the ‘staging’ of practices as a way to understand the interplay of formal and informal practices. Informality can take place in front stage settings where rules are pre-given or in backstage settings where rules are not pre-given, while at the same time these settings can be formally sanctioned or not. Besides formal front stage practices this may result in three types of informal practices: informal front stage practices, formally sanctioned backstage practices and ‘sub-politics’.