Regionalism Concepts and Characteristics

International Relation BBA 2 Year, 4 Semester Regionalism

• Course focuses on the concept of regionalism within international relations.
• Regionalism, according to Joseph Nye, is a limited number of states linked by geography and mutual interdependence.
• Regionalism, as defined by Hurrell, involves interstate associations or groupings based on regions.
• The modern world sees cooperation, and integration of states as a key global trend.
• Regionalization is a response to globalization's challenges.
• Regionalism redefines national sovereignty and is influenced by societal integration and economic interaction.
• Political power and influence are strengthened in specific geographic regions by united nation-states.
• Regionalism encompasses economic, political, social and security dimensions.
• A distinction exists between cooperation and integration within regionalism.
• Regional integration involves removing obstacles and creating a shared governance space.
• "New regionalism" leads to countries' economic integration and non-state actor emergence.
• An increasing interconnected world is behind the rise of regionalism.
• Regionalism emerged after World War Two and during the Cold War.
• Regionalism aims to gain economic stability, increase regional stability, and increase political influence.
• Security regionalism focuses on peace and security, as well as building alliances to avoid war.
• Regionalism plays a key role in global politics, allowing joint worldwide policies.
• Shared interests form a group identity but potential for disagreement and conflicts among states.
• Inter-state regionalism involves issues related to state borders and can be challenged by resource conflicts or territorial claims.
• Demand for state autonomy involves states seeking to break away from larger countries.
• Supra-state regionalism involves states coming together to support joint initiatives.

Concept of State-Promoted Regional Integration

• State-promoted regional integration involves policies aimed at reducing or removing barriers to mutual good, service and capital exchange among people.
• Integration can be compared along scope (range of issues), depth (policy harmonization), institutionalization (formal institutional building), and centralization (authority centralization).

Categorized Regionalism

• Cultural regionalism focuses on shared cultural, historical, or linguistic ties.
• Economic regionalism involves cooperation for economic growth, trade, and investment.
• Political regionalism involves political collaboration and alliances among states.
• Environmental regionalism focuses on regional cooperation for addressing environmental issues and promoting sustainability.
• Geopolitical regionalism reflects the influence of global power dynamics on regional alliances.
• Decentralized regionalism emphasizes local governance and autonomy.
• Transnational regionalism involves connections across national borders (trade, migration, etc.).
• Social regionalism focuses on improving social welfare in a region through cooperation.

Examples of Regionalism

• European Union (EU): A political and economic union of European countries.
• Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): Fosters economic growth, cultural exchange, and political stability in Southeast Asia.
• African Union (AU): Promotes unity and cooperation among African nations.
• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): A military alliance providing collective defense.
• Other notable organizations include: Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), ASEAN+6 (including China, Japan, etc.), and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

Regional Development Banks

• Regional development banks arose in response to post-colonial economic challenges and efforts toward political independence by previously colonized nations.
• Challenges involved economic instability, international competition, foreign investment diversion to developed nations, and need for adequate regional cooperation.
• Development banks aim to promote regional cooperation and development by addressing economic and political challenges.
• Common features include shared objectives, developed country and developing country members, and similar funding and lending policies like the World Bank.