University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Module on the European Union in International Relations

Amanda Cook Fesperman

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/101873

Description

Title
Module on the European Union in International Relations
Author(s)
Amanda Cook Fesperman
Issue Date
2018
Keyword(s)
  • European Union
  • International Relations
  • Functionalism
  • Neo-functionalism
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
Date of Ingest
2018-10-23T14:45:22Z
Geographic Coverage
European Union
Abstract
The study of international relations includes a section on intergovernmental organizations. The history, growth and purpose of these organizations derives from two schools of thought: functionalism and neo-functionalism. Functionalism describes organizations that that start out cooperating on a narrow set of political issues and then expand from there to include broader set of issues. In the beginning, this “bottom-up,” evolutionary approach begins with limited, pragmatic cooperation on narrow, nonpolitical issues. Neo-functionalism, then, states that IGOs are created from a more top-down approach. IGOs are given them the resources and the authority they need to address central global problems, then in time countries and their people will learn to trust and govern through these IGOs. The European Union is an example of an IGO that was born out of functionalism but has now evolved into a neo-functional organization. By teaching students the history and evolution of the EU, I will be able to demonstrate these important theories in International Relations, and broaden their understanding of the European Union itself, as an important and vibrant IGO.
Type of Resource
  • text
  • other
Genre of Resource
  • Working / Discussion Paper
  • Other
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/101873

Owning Collections

International Studies Research Lab PRIMARY
Results of the work done by community college educators as part of the Title VI Department of Education Grant.