ABSTRACT
Maltese political development has been conditioned by the country’s economic and strategic weakness, confined by size but impinged on due to location. An increasingly sophisticated and politically active indigenous population have had to accommodate dependency on external factors to ensure the Islands’ wellbeing and security. However, determining what type of strategic relationship to foster, and with whom, came to dominate and polarise Malta’s political class. The question of EU membership would be no different, with important consequences for Europeanization in Malta. Ultimately, ‘a country’s historical experiences will affect the attitude of its people and officials towards integration, as well as the ability of its government to adapt to, adopt or resist integration’ (Warrington 2005: 306).
