The 2004 enlargement of the European Union has provided political scientists with 10 additional cases to examine national preference formation and behaviour in the EU. The first two years of Slovakia's membership suggest that while unique historical experiences and size contribute to explaining Slovakia's stance on further integration, ideology, powerful societal interests and the opportunities of membership (as opposed to accession) hold the key. These findings not only feed into broader debates surrounding preference formation and related theories of European integration, but also cast light on the behaviour of new Member States following the period shaped by accession conditionality.
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