La disputa marítima israelo-libanesa y el neofuncionalismo

The neofunctionalist theory considers that cooperation among states in certain areas of common interest will make it possible an advance towards regional integration and the peaceful resolution of conflicts, due to the perception of the advantages derived from such integration. In reality, this neofunctionalist inspiration has been present in the European Union (EU) policies towards the Mediterranean Sea. The thesis moved forward in this article is that, in contrast to neofunctionalist expectations, the discovery of important hydrocarbon deposits that straddle the maritime boundary between Israel and Lebanon has contributed to foster more instability in an area where existing rivalries are especially sensitive to any shift in the balance of power. Moreover, the traditional US hegemonic role is clearly weakened and it cannot provide an effective mediation. As for the EU mechanisms for regional cooperation, they are not the appropriate tool to overcome this conflict due to the fact that they do not meet the existing security concerns, as the realist theory predicts.