ABSTRACT
Peace is difficult to achieve in the existing international system mainly dominated by sovereign states. In traditional views, states are the main actors engaged in competition for maximising national interests. Due to a lack of overarching supranational authorities, international order has been conceived of as anarchy over a long time. Integration theories have long focused on the role of functional cooperation in promoting peace and human well-being. Neofunctionalists agree with the significance of international networks of cooperation in integration. Environmental protection, promotion of human rights, democratic governance, and other concerns can be better achieved within a larger institutional framework than a state. The European Union is a prominent example that represents an example to build an integrated political community based on neofunctionalist principles. Regional organisations have been important in the co-ordination of economic policies. The International Court of Justice makes a judicial decision when conflicts occur between states.
