Functionalism is a theory of international relations that arose principally from the experience of European integration. Rather than the self-interest that realists see as a motivating factor, functionalists focus on common interests shared by states. Integration develops its own internal dynamic: as states integrate in limited functional or technical areas, they increasingly find that momentum for further rounds of integration in related areas. This "invisible hand" of integration phenomenon is termed "spillover". Although integration can be resisted, it becomes harder to stop integration's reach as it progresses. This usage, and the usage in functionalism in international relations, is the less common meaning of functionalism.
functionalism is a theory of international relations that arose principally from the experience of european integration rather than the self-interest that realists see as a motivating factor functionalists focus on common interests shared by states integration develops its own internal dynamic as states integrate in limited functional or technical areas they increasingly find that momentum for further rounds of integration in related areas this "invisible hand" of integration phenomenon is termed "spillover" although integration can be resisted it becomes harder to stop integration's reach as it progresses this usage and the usage in functionalism in international relations is the less common meaning of functionalism