Neo - Functionalism : Integration Essay PDF

Preview

Summary

Download Neo - Functionalism : Integration Essay PDF

Description

Assignment 2 Bansi Mehta 180068636

To explain the process of integration in the European Union (EU), theories have developed to make clear how and why the EU is the way it is today. Using theories are important as it gives us the ability to understand how the EU has developed and what it might be in future. I believe neo – functionalism is the best theory to explain the process on integration and functioning of the EU. The theory of neo functionalism is that states are not the only main actor on the international scene, but it is more focused on supranational institutions and nonstate actors, for instance, pressure groups’ and political parties. The theory focuses specifically on; the spillover hypothesis, the elite socialization hypothesis and the supranational interest group hypothesis. These hypotheses help to explain the neo functionalism theory on the European Integration process.1 This paper will explain why neo – functionalism is the best theory to explain the process of integration and the functions of the EU Firstly, spillover helps the explain the process of integration in the EU. Ernst B. Haas’s theory on neo – functionalism ‘assumes that cooperation in one policy area would create pressures in a neighbouring policy area, placing it on the political agenda, and ultimately leading to further integration.’2 Spillover comes in three forms; functional spillover, political spillover and cultivated spillover. Functional Spillover – where policies of economic sectors leads to other polices – can be seen in the creation of the single market. In 1985, the European Economic Community removed the tariff barriers, allowing for the freedom of movement of goods between member states3 which then led to more traded between states of the EU, e.g. in 2017, 44% of all UK exports went to the EU.4 Not only was this a step to further EU integration, but it led to more policies being made. Firstly, the freedom of movement of goods developed to the freedom of movement people, services and capital. Additionally, nation states around Germany, in the late 1980s aligned their monetary policies with the Deutschmark and the Bundesbank, forming an Optimal Currency Area. However, this resulted in these states being vulnerable to inflation and deflation so it led to another spillover, which created a common currency and the Monetary Union.5 This shows that the hypothesis of spillover, derived from neo functionalism theory helps to explain the process of integration of the EU as many steps were taken allowing free movement of people and goods and also a shared currency by many member states, further integrating the EU. However, there is an opportunity for spillback – which challenges the theory of neo – functionalism. Spillback occurs when actors withdraw from their original objective, which can lead to disintegration.6 This can be seen in the Schengen debate. The Schengen agreement led to most European countries abolishing their national borders creating a ‘Schengen Area’.7 However the Frencho – Italian proposal came to agenda after the Tunisian migrant crisis, 1 Cini, M. (2016). European Union politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, p.55. 2 Ibid. 3 M. Dunn, T. (2012). Neo-Functionalism and the European Union. [online] E-International Relations. Available at: https://www.e-ir.info/2012/11/28/neo-functionalism-and-the-european-union/ 4 Ward, M. (2019). Statistics on UK-EU trade. [online] Researchbriefings.parliament.uk. Available at: https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-7851 [ 5 . M Dunn, T. (2012). Neo-Functionalism and the European Union. [online] E-International Relations. Available at: https://www.e-ir.info/2012/11/28/neo-functionalism-and-the-european-union/ 6 Cini, M. (2016). European Union politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, p.419

which put pressure on the relations between France and Italy. In April the 26th 2011, the French and Italian leaders signed an agreement which proposed an introduction of border checks in case of serious threat to public order.8 The debate on this agreement is that reintroduction of border checks will change the direction of migrants towards states that are still under Schengen rules, this will lead to further disintegration as theses countries would not want to be burdened by more migrants so will follow France and Italy and eventually hold up free movement in Europe. This will lead to further disintegration in the EU, as free movement is an important principle of EU integration, it can be seen as ‘an attack on the EU’s main achievement’.9 This is evidence that perhaps neo – functionalism may not be the best theory to explain the integration and functioning of the EU. Intergovernmentalism is another theory that explains the integration of the EU and can be described as that it advocates a central role for national governments and a decrease in the role of supranational institutions.10 Supporters of intergovernmentalism often express that the individual nation states interests have a more important role than supranational institutions and that neo – functionalism is an outdated theory.11 It has been argued that supranational institutions have been developed from the process of integration which has resulted from the member states securing their own interests. Hoffman and Moravcsik have made a case that it is the individual nation states that control the speed of integration within the EU, which can be argued against the spillover effect. This can be shown by the decision of David Cameron vetoing the treaty to strengthen fiscal discipline in the EU, in December 2011, which resulted in slowing down or even stopping integration in that policy area12. However, a hypothesis that explains neo – functionalism is supranationalism, which involves the role of societal groups and that interest groups and political parties are key points in the process on integration. 13 Supranational institutions also mean that in the EU, member states have delegates sovereignty to institutions such as the European commission, European Parliament and the European Central Bank. Neo – functionalists believe that interest groups will develop their own interests with an eye to supranational institutions. An example is that the national industrial and employer’s organizations instituted a common European organization, the Confederation of European Business, BUSINESSEUROPE in 1958 (originally called UNICE), at a similar time to the European Community to influence future community policy, this shows that interest groups have the role in effecting the functions of policy making and integrating in the EU, which supports the neo – functionalism theory. Neo – functionalists also consider that interest groups can hurry up the process of integration by putting pressure on governments to do so. 14 In conclusion, although the weaknesses, neo – functionalism is the best theory to explain the process of integration and function of the EU, with spillover being the most important factor as it acts as positive feedback of integration – the single market being the best example as it allows for members states to further integrate. Although in intergovernmentalism, it argues 7 Schengen Visa Information. (2019). The Schengen Agreement - History and the Definition. [online] Available at: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/schengen-agreement/ 8 Yilmaz - Elmas, F. (2011). Schengen Debate: A spill-back in EU Integration?. Daily News. 9 Ibid. 10 Cini, M. (2016). European Union politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, p.66, Box 5.1 11 M. Dunn, T. (2012). Neo-Functionalism and the European Union. [online] E-International Relations. Available at: https://www.e-ir.info/2012/11/28/neo-functionalism-and-the-european-union/ 12 Ibid. 13 Cini, M. (2016). European Union politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, p.54 14 Ibid., p59

that the individual national states have control of the integration and functioning of the EU, they do give the EU sovereignty by being member, especially with institutions such as the European Commission and Parliament that have more control and power of the speed and process of integration and the functions of the EU.

Bibliography Cini, M. (2016). European Union politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press M. Dunn, T. (2012). Neo-Functionalism and the European Union. [online] E-International Relations. Available at: https://www.e-ir.info/2012/11/28/neo-functionalism-and-the-european-union/ Schengen Visa Information. (2019). The Schengen Agreement - History and the Definition. [online] Available at: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/schengen-agreement/ Ward, M. (2019). Statistics on UK-EU trade. [online] Researchbriefings.parliament.uk. Available at: https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-7851 Yilmaz - Elmas, F. (2011). Schengen Debate: A spill-back in EU Integration?. Daily News....