Introduction

• Functionalism emerged as a theory of international relations during the inter-War period, a time marked by disillusionment with nationalism and the failure of the state system to prevent global conflict.
• Scholars such as David Mitrany, the key proponent of functionalism, argued that states had become obsolete as forms of social organization because their authority was rooted in territorial sovereignty and power politics, which frequently led to war.
• Mitrany proposed that international cooperation should be built around common functional needs—in areas like health, communication, transportation, and economic development—rather than political or military alliances.
• For example, he suggested that organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) or the International Labour Organization (ILO) should handle specific problems that transcend borders. These institutions, by focusing on technical and welfare functions, could help reduce conflict and encourage peace through what Mitrany called “working peace systems.”
• In the broader field of social sciences, functionalism originated earlier with thinkers like Herbert Spencer and Émile Durkheim, who viewed society as a living organism where every part performs a specific function to maintain social stability and order.
• For example, Durkheim’s study of religion and division of labor showed how institutions and norms contribute to social cohesion. Talcott Parsons later developed this into structural functionalism, explaining how institutions (like family, economy, polity, and education) interconnect to maintain the equilibrium of society.
• Over time, however, functionalism faced criticism. Scholars accused it of being static—unable to explain social change, conflict, or revolution—and methodologically weak, focusing too much on harmony and ignoring inequalities.
• Critics like C. Wright Mills and Ralf Dahrendorf argued that it served to justify the status quo, making it socially and politically conservative.
• Despite these critiques, functionalism continued to influence thinking in international relations through functional and regional integration theories.
• When David Mitrany’s ideas inspired post-World War II attempts at European cooperation, a new form of the theory emerged — Neofunctionalism.
• Neofunctionalism, developed by Ernst B. Haas and later refined by Leon Lindberg, sought to explain the process of regional integration, particularly in Europe. Haas’s study of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) demonstrated how economic cooperation in one sector can spill over into other areas, leading to political integration over time. This process, known as the spillover effect, became central to neofunctionalist theory. For instance, the ECSC’s success eventually led to the creation of the European Economic Community (EEC) and ultimately the European Union (EU).
• Neofunctionalism differed from classical functionalism in key ways. While Mitrany envisioned global functionalism transcending nation-states, Haas emphasized regional integration, particularly in Europe, and accepted that political actors—like bureaucrats, interest groups, and regional elites—play a crucial role in advancing integration. Thus, neofunctionalism combined functional logic with a recognition of political realities.
• Neofunctionalism also revived aspects of Parsons’s structural functionalism, integrating them with modern critical perspectives to make the theory more dynamic and adaptable. The theory acknowledged that integration is a process, not a one-time event — each step of cooperation builds on previous achievements, leading to deeper regional unity.
• Over time, neofunctionalism evolved in response to changing global circumstances. During the 1970s and 1980s, when European integration slowed, the theory was criticized for underestimating the role of national interests and sovereignty. However, in the 1990s, with the Maastricht Treaty and the expansion of the EU, the theory regained relevance.
• Functionalism and neofunctionalism together represent an evolution in thinking about cooperation and integration. Functionalism laid the foundation by emphasizing technical cooperation and the erosion of state boundaries, while neofunctionalism built on it by incorporating political, institutional, and regional dynamics.
• Both perspectives shifted the focus of international relations from conflict and power toward cooperation and interdependence, influencing how scholars and policymakers understand the creation and growth of international and regional organizations like the European Union, ASEAN, and African Union.

Evolution of Functionalism