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CRITICALLY OUTLINE AND ASSESS THE STRENGTH AND WEAKNESSES OF THE NEOFUNCTIONALST THEORY OF INTERGRATION

When embarking on an essay concerning neo-functionalism and its strengths and weaknesses regarding European Union (EU) integration it would primarily be of importance to give a brief but detailed description of the theory itself.   This will allow us to gain a perspective of where and what the theory entails and the idea it projects.   This will give a solid foundation upon which to be able to assess, following this, the strengths and weaknesses of the theory and where it leaves us in common day EU integration.

Neo-functionalism is a theory of regional integration building on the work of Ernst B Haas (Wikipedia).   The theory was developed by the French scholar Monnet whom himself had a history within international politics.   He served in the League of Nations, British Supply Council and more fittingly to this discussion as the president of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).   The main focus of the theory is on the ‘factors’ that drive integration.   These factors were generally deemed to be interest group activity, the role of governments, political party activity and the role of supranational organization and institutions.   The thinking behind the neo-functionalist approach was to integrate individual sectors of Europe, which in turn would achieve spillover effects and further the process of integration on a wider scale.   The idea of spillover means that if policies are introduced and implemented in one sector it becomes economically and socially desirable for other countries to also implement these policies in other sectors for their own economic gain.   Thus, through default, further integration and international cohesion is achieved.   The concept of ‘spillover’ is also known as the ‘expansive logic of integration’. This, according to Monnet, would result in a more peaceful Europe.  

Neo-functionalism appeared on the EU spectrum as a...