Theoretical Perspectives on Comparative Regional Integration
Abstract
Theories of integration have mainly been developed to explain European integration. Europe was the region of the world, where regional integration started in the early 1950s with the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1952. Ernest Haas theorized this experience in The Uniting of Europe (1958). The main theoretical contribution was the concept of spillover. Later Lindberg used this concept to study the early years of the European Economic Community (EEC), which started its existence in 1958 ( Lindberg, 1963 ). These early theories are usually referred to as neo-functionalist theories.
Fields of Study & Subjects
International Business and FDI
Regional Development and Policy
Global trade and economics
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Comparative Regional Integration
- Publisher
- Routledge
- Pages
- 3–28
- Publication date
- 6 January 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter