Critically examine the functional and system approaches to the study of international relations. (UPSC CSE Mains 2016 - Political Science and International Relations, Paper 2)
- Functionalist theory of integration by David Mitrany The central feature of the functional approach is the creation of international agencies with limited and specific power defined by the function that they perform. Therefore, functional agencies operate only within the territories of the states that choose to join them and so do not threaten state sovereignty. David Mitrany advocated transnational cooperation likely to grow into a system of interdependence, dominated by the need to solve mutual problems. Considering the interwar experience and that of the Second World War, Mitrany argued that “we must put our faith, not in a protected peace, but a working peace.” He believed that, perhaps somewhat naively, technical experts should arrange that cooperation, not by politicians. The experts would devise solutions to common problems in various functional areas: transport, communication, finance, etc. technical and economic collaboration would expand when the participants discovered the mutual benefits that could be obtained from it. When citizens realised that the efficient collaboration in international organisations promotes their welfare measures, they would shift their loyalty from the state to international organisations. In that way, economic interdependence would lead to political integration and peace. The best example is the establishment of the ECSC and the European Union. Ernst Haas visualised a connection between economic cooperation and political integration, to be achieved by the process of automatic politicisation.
- The Systems approach became the hallmark of Political Science and International Relations (IR) during the Cold War period. The Systems approach, in general, believes that each and every System in the universe is interconnected and exert influence over one another. The behavioural revolution in the 1950s and 1960s initiated the Systems approach to Political Science and IR. Major System theorists to IR are Morton Kaplan, Kenneth Waltz, Robert Keohane, Joseph Nye, Alexander Wendt, and Immanuel Wallerstein. Most of the Systems theorists to IR view the international system, as an integrated whole, made of its structure and nation-states as its primary units. They also argue that the System has a mechanism to control the behaviour of nation-states, therefore, the developments in International Relations is a consequence of the function of the international system rather than that of the result of the domestic factors. The significance of the Systems approach to IR is that it sets forth a distinct framework to analyse International Relations. The Systems approach to IR marks a contrast to the traditional approach, which focuses only on the domestic factors such as the ideology of a nation-state, the character of the head of the state, and other internal matters that influence the behaviour of nation-states. Thus, the core of the systems approach to the study of IR, lies in the belief that the international system is an integrated whole, which is made of its structure and nation-states.The study of IR should be focused on the functions of the international system and its regulating force rather than examining the domestic factors of nation-states.
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