| This dissertation reengages a classic theory of regional integration known as neofunctionalism by assessing the post-Cold War evolution of the institutions and capabilities of the European Union associated with the formation of common foreign, security, and defense policies. A key corollary of neofunctionalist thought is the concept of "spillover" in which coordinated integration in pursuit of an objective leads member nation-states to further integrate. The dissertation considers the theoretical context of neofunctionalist spillover, presents a framework for analysis, considers relevant historic context, and then examines three case studies utilizing this framework. The author concludes that while evidence of spillover exists in structures associated with the formation of common foreign, security, and defense policies in the post-Cold War European Union, further integration is not inevitable. |
