Neo-Functionalism

By who and when was it introduced?

Ernst B. Haas in 1958

3 mechanisms of Neo-functionalism

Spillover, Elite Socialization, and Supranatational Interest Groups

Key assumptions of Neo-functionalists (2)

Integration is not a zero-sum situation (everyone gains), and integration is driven by elites

Define Spillover

The process in which political cooperation conducted with a specific goal in mind leads to new goals to achieve the original goal in mind

Examples of spillover

Development of EU green policies to reduce carbon emissions

3 types of spillover

Functional, political, and cultivated

Define functional spillover

Integrating one sector makes integrating related sectors logical (technocratic by nature)

Define political spillover

Once a sector is run at the supranational level, the affected groups follow the power to Brussels instead of staying at the national level (integrations from bottom-up)

Define cultivated spillover

The Commission (and Court of Justice through case law) work to push integration further than national governments intended (top-down approach)

Define elite socialization

When elites who work in Brussels develop supranational loyalties, they begin seeing their roles as representatives in the EU as representatives of the EU and not their national roles.

What are the consequences of elite socialization (2)?

Elites become advocates for more supranational cooperation + the agenda drifts toward technical problems and away from political fights

Define the emergence of supranational interests

When interest group structures become more European, as corporations and business groups formulate their own interests and are driven by economic and political integrations

Examples of the emergence of supranational interests

BUSINESS-EUROPE (1958) & Financial Crisis of 2008

How does the example of BUSINESS-EUROPE (1958) demonstrate the emergence of supranational interests?

National industrial and employers’ organizations established a common European organization with the intention of influencing future community policy, and as economic and political integration in a given region develops, interest groups will try to match this development by reorganizing at the supranational level

How does the example of the Financial Crisis (2008) demonstrate the emergence of supranational interests?

The Basel Committee (after the crisis) has developed international banking standards to reduce uncertainty in the international financial system

Consequences of the emergence of supranational interests (2)

Development of interest group allegiance to supranational institutions (can put pressure on governments) + Interest groups can promote supranational integration to national governments

Empirical critique of neo-functionalism

It didn’t hold in the 1970s because of “Empty Chair crisis” and little political integration

Theoretical critique of neo-functionalism

Elite socialization mechanism didn’t survive testing and it underplayed the role of nation-states in integration

Normative critique of neo-functionalism

Integration was done by small steps the public didn’t even notice (so it was not very democratic)

Revival of Neo-Functionalism

Early 1990s with a new phase of European integration that was caused by the “Single European Act”

How did Stone Sweet & Sandholtz (1998) view neo-functionalist theoyr?

Partial theory that only explained some parts of European integration

Stone Sweet & Sandholtz (1998) 3 steps of integration

Move beyond supranational-integovernmental binary + anknoledges differences in integration across policy areas + “transcation-based” theory for integration