2026-07-072026-07-07http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/18538The variational approach to weakly nonlocal thermodynamic theories is critically revisited in the light of modern nonequilibrium thermodynamics. The example of Ginzburg-Landau equation is investigated in detail.8 pages, Lecture delivered on CIMRF'01 in BerlinMaterials ScienceStatistical Mechanicstext