Neo-functional peace: the European Union way of resolving conflicts

Abstract

The European Union has expanded its role in preventing conflicts and building peace, but its insti-tutional practices remain insufficiently conceptualized. This article argues that, drawing from astrong self-perception toward a neo-functionalist interpretation of its own history, the EU uses’neo-functio nal peace’ as an approach for resolving protracted disputes, through deconstructinghighly political issues into technical meanings in order to achieve mutually acceptable agreements.This article explores the EU’s efforts to normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia, andexamines the reliance on aspects of neo-functionalism for building peace after protracted disputes.We argue that neo-functional peace has played a crucial role in normalizing political relations andreconciling some of the outstanding disputes between Kosovo and Serbia. Building on this casestudy, we suggest a theoretical concept of neo-functional peace as a useful means to conceptualizethe EU’s peace support practices