Functionalism (international relations)

The functionalism is current of thought in Théorie of the international relations which studies the process of integration of political space. Its objective is to set up a peaceful international system, by the means of institutions which transcend the State.

Exposed theory

In the functionalist theory, in fact the technical needs (and not policies) of a complex company support the co-operation. In other words, the problems which exceed the borders of a state involve the creation of suitable international institutions mechanically. The key for integration is the social wellbeing, which is supposed to be more effectively assured by supranational institutions. The State is considered here as an imperfect institution that it is a question of dismembering its capacities gradually, with the final objective to decrease the interetatic conflictuality.

The international organizations in the technical fields (like the International organization of work, the Universal postal union, the the World Health Organization, etc) illustrate the functionalist theory.

The functionalist theory adopts a prospect known as bottom-up (of bottom upwards), that means that the needs for the base involve the creation of institutions at the top to satisfy these needs.

Neofonctionnalism

Several problems arose as for the relevance of the functionalist theory; in particular, it is too deterministic and is unaware of the policy. All the problems are regarded as engineering problems, that it is of education, the social wellbeing, health. The Néofonctionnalisme will take up the functionalist ideas by modernizing them will integrate the political element in the theory; moreover it will adopt an approach signal-down (top downwards) which insists on the role of the elite S in the installation of process of co-operation.

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