1. Theories of European Integration

This chapter examines a number of theories of European integration. It first considers the intellectual predecessors of the first attempts to theorize European integration, focusing in particular on the functionalism of David Mitrany, the federalism of Altiero Spinelli, and the ‘federal-functionalism’ of Jean Monnet. It then discusses neofunctionalism and intergovernmentalism, along with liberal intergovernmentalism and supranational governance. It also explores international relations theories of European integration. The chapter shows that the study of integration was dominated by the competing approaches of neofunctionalism and intergovernmentalism, and that the debate about whether the European Union is characterized by intergovernmentalism or supranationalism still informs much of the academic work on the subject.