Vol.:(0123456789) Chinese Political Science Review https://doi.org/10.1007/s41111-018-0116-0 1 3 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Regional Integration and the Neo‑functionalist Model: The Brexit Narrative Oluwatobi Aje 1  · Felix Chidozie 2 Received: 7 June 2018 / Accepted: 18 November 2018 © Fudan University 2018 Abstract The socio-economic and political advantages derived as benefts of the integrative project have been the justifcation for most integrative initiatives. This has also made regional integration a major phenomenon in international relations, both as a feld of study and as a sphere of actual relation. Many theories are paraded in scholarly circles explaining the rationale and process of the integrative project. However, little attention is paid to the fact that, on the continuum of integration, retrogression and disengagement is possible as social realities unfold. Using archival research method, the work examines the relevance of the neo-functional model in explaining recent trends on integration, using Brexit as a case study. It contends that the neo-function- alist model still holds analytical purchase in approximating contemporary trends of integration. Keywords Brexit · Neo-functionalism · Regional integration · Regional disintegration · Spill-over · Spill-back 1 Introduction The cooperation of nation-states has been accentuated through the penetrating forces of globalization. Thus, the topic has spurred critical engagements, eliciting varying ideological posturings. Regional integration became compelling after the Second World War, as European nations began to recognise the indispensability of coopera- tion and joint workings to reconcile the general interests and the distinct interests of states (Afnotan 2017). The shift to integration was reinforced by the forces of * Oluwatobi Aje ajeoluwatobi@gmail.com Felix Chidozie felix.chidozie@covenantuniversity.edu.ng 1 Department of Political Science and International Relations, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria 2 Department of Political Science and International Relations, College of Leadership Development Studies, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria