Integration Theory and International Relations Theory: A Connection to Establish

Among most scholars the analysis of processes of integration has not yet reached the desired amplitude and depth that its growing importance in the International Relations system by now deserves. The same concept of integration is not yet agreed upon by everyone in the doctrine. What is more, it is not often found in major encyclopedic works; at least not in the sense in which we are interested. 1 Even in International Relations bibliography, particularly that one of “classical” inspiration, we find only rare cases in which authors deal with the concept (and its relative subjects) in an exhaustive manner. 2 If anything, the number of those belonging to the so-called “scientific” school is more abundant, and have attempted to make progress in the knowledge of integrative processes. But even from this point of view, much still remains to be done. One of the tendencies of postbehavioralism is of soliciting a type of research which would be more relevant for decision-makers. Now, the problem of integration is among the first places in the order of priorities established by the supporters of this approach. Methodology, analytic technique, and quantification still remain important. But in perspective to these is added the problem of filling the gaps between quantitative and qualitative analyses; as well as revaluating the study of history, and obtaining from it at the same time a nomotetic use that would allow one to move smoothly on a nomotetic-idiografic continuum, and to separate theory from its time conditions.