European Union Studies Working Group

VII^th Extraordinary Session – March 14, 2012, 13:15h - 14:45h, Seminar Room 2 (BF)

Neo-Neo-Functionalism: Déjà-Vu all over again?

by Philippe C. Schmitter (Emeritus Professor, EUI)

Bio: Philippe C. Schmitter was Professor of Political Science at the European University Institute in Florence, Department of Political and Social Sciences until September 2004. He was then nominated Professorial Fellow at the same Institution. He is now Emeritus of the Department of Political and Social Sciences at the European University Institute. To find his full profile, please go here.

Abstract: No theory of regional integration has been as misunderstood, caricatured, pilloried, proven wrong and rejected as often as neo-functionalism. Numerous scholars have rejoiced at having “overcome” the much-decried antagonism between it and inter-governmentalism, presumably by adhering to some version or another of the latter. So much so, that with very few exceptions, virtually no one currently working on European integration openly admits to being a neo-functionalist. Its own creator has even declared it obsolescent – on two occasions! So, why bother to beat this dead horse? Why not celebrate its demise and move on to a more promising and up-to-date approach?

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