neofunctionalism

international organizations

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July 20, 2026

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Neofunctionalism is a theory that explains the early stages of regional integration, particularly how institutions like the European Union evolved. It suggests that cooperation on limited, technical issues (like trade or specific economic sectors) can gradually lead to deeper political integration. This "spillover" effect occurs as functional cooperation creates interdependence, pushing states towards more comprehensive integration to manage shared challenges and benefits. While initially focused on economic and technical matters, neofunctionalism posits that this process can eventually lead to broader political union.1

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functionalism
Neofunctionalism
New functional issues such as combating HIV/AIDS and promoting wider access to information technologies arose but were predicted to most likely combine the traditional role of the functional agencies with NGO and corporate partnerships.
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New functional issues such as combating HIV/AIDS and promoting wider access to information technologies arose but were predicted to most likely combine the traditional role of the functional agencies with NGO and corporate partnerships.
Read More