Idiosyncrasies in the Negotiation of the EU Accession - Case of Romania

Abstract

This research aims at explaining some of the decisions (or ways of action) in the public sphere through the analysis of subjective elements (idiosyncrasies) that occur at individual level. The use of psychological methods for the analysis of foreign policy decision-making opened a new path of investigation in the field of international relations. The case study which is brought to attention refers to the period 2000 – 2004, during Romania’s preparation for accession to the European Union, from the perspective of the psychological factors that have intervened in the negotiations and decision-making process at the individual level. The discourses of former Chief Negotiator Vasile Pușcaș were analysed in this research process.

Keywords

• psychological approach of decision-making process
• idiosyncrasies
• European negotiations
• discourse
• Romania’s EU accession