1. Regionalism in International Affairs
Cheung Ka Yu Rebecca (I43014)
Regionalism in International Affairs

2. CONTENTS 1 2 3 Basic concepts and debates of regionalism
Reviews of main developments in Americas, Africa, Asia and the process of European integration.
CONTENTS 3
Conclusion and questions

3. Basic concepts and debates of regionalism1
Basic concepts and debates of regionalism

4. 01 Basic concepts and debates of regionalism What are regions?
Regionalism in international context
 the range of special relationships between neighbouring countries that represent more than normal diplomatic relations
—‘the growth of societal integration within a region and…the often undirected processes of social and economic interaction’ (Hurrell 1995:39). Regional agreements cover different mixtures of economic, social, political, and security concerns
-Some regional integration processes are more state-led, others more market-led.
-Regional cooperation and regional integration
What are regions?

5. 01 Basic concepts and debates of regionalism What are regions?
Regional cooperation
-Policies and agreements relating to matters such as preferential or free trade agreements entailing the removal of trade barriers for trade in goods; Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs)
-“Entry” into and “exit” from such arrangements is relatively costless; “loyalty” to the region as such is (and remains) minimal.
Regional integration
-More binding, difficult to exit
-Deeper forms of cooperation that could include an alignment of customs regimes; the coordination in macroeconomic policies; a freer movement of factors of production like labor and capital; cross border connectivity, communications and energy related linkages; a common central bank
What are regions?
aim at promoting ACP-EU trade – and ultimately contribute, through trade and investment, to sustainable development and poverty reduction.

6. 01 Regional cooperation Functional cooperation Economic cooperation
Limited agreements agreed between states in order to work together in particular areas, such as transport, energy, or health.。
Governments systematically inform and consult each other, try to adopt common positions in international organisations, and may even implement joint actions somewhere。
Functional cooperation
Cooperation in foreign and security policy
Agreements that foresee some degree of commercial preferentialism, but with no harmonization of domestic rules nor any obligation for common action in international affairs.。
Mutual support and commitment regarding the implementation of certain values and practices within the countries.。
Economic cooperation
Political cooperation

7. 01 Regional integration Economic integration
Refers to processes by which states go beyond the removal of ‘obstacles to interaction between their countries’ and create a regional space subject to some distinct common rules.
Several degrees of ambition are usually distinguished: free trade area, customs union, common market, economic and monetary union.
Economic integration
 All regional systems, including the EU today, is a mixture of both

8. 01 Basic concepts and debates of regionalism
Why do states decide to pursue regional integration, and what dynamics may explain the evolution of such regional agreements?
‘Management of independence’: the need for newly independent states to settle down in their relations between themselves, with the former colonial power, and with other powers, often rival powers process of consolidating international identity.
‘Management of interdependence’, regional mechanisms to guarantee peace and security (also economic and social interaction). Regional organizations can foster 'security communities' (i.e. transnational communities in which peoples have dependable expectations of peaceful change) by promoting cooperation, establishing norms of behaviour, and serving as sites of socialization and learning.)
‘Management of internationalization’: the relationship between regional agreements and the rest of the world. The debate on impacts brought by regional agreements to Multilateral liberalization were made by Bhagwati (1991), which was called 'building-blocks-or-stumbling-blocks'.

9. 2 1 4 3 5 01 Building-blocks-or-stumbling-blocks—proponents
-Such arrangements promote internal and international dynamics that enhance the prospects for multilateralism
-Regionalism can have important demonstration effects in accustoming actors to the effects of liberalization
-Regional agreements are often more to do with strategic or political alliances than trade liberalization
-Increased numbers of regional arrangements can weaken the opposition to multilateral liberalization because each successive arrangement reduces the value of the margin of preference 5
-Regionalism has more positive than negative political effects

10. 2 1 4 3 5 01 Building-blocks-or-stumbling-blocks—opponents
-The creation of multiple legal frameworks and dispute settlement mechanisms may weaken discipline and efficiency
-Competing arrangements may lock in incompatible regulatory structures and standards 2 1 4 3
-The net result of preferential agreements may be trade diversion
-There may be 'attention diversion', with participating countries losing interest in the multilateral system, or simply an absorption of available negotiating resources 5
-Regionalism may contribute to international frictions between competing blocs.

11. Regional cooperation in a global context2
Regional cooperation in a global context

12. 02

13. Evolution of regionalism02
Regionalism in the Americas
-Post-war regionalism: State-led efforts to reduce reliance on exports of primary commodities, and to achieve industrialization through import substitution. (Latin America)
-Regional integration as solution:
Central American Common Market (CACM, 1960)
The Latin American Free Trade Association (LAFTA, 1961)
The Andean Pact (1969)
Evolution of regionalism

14. Evolution of regionalism02
Regionalism in the Americas
-New regionalism (1980s): In a more multipolar world, non-state actors are active, regional arrangements are more open than before in areas of economic integration, with hopes to regain control over global market forces.
The Central American Integration System (SICA) in 1991
The Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR) in 1991
 Important political dimensions.
 Mutual support for the consolidation of democracy and the ending of rivalry between Argentina and Brazil
Evolution of regionalism

15. Evolution of regionalism02
Regionalism in the Americas
In 1990s
The Andean Community of Nations (CAN) in 1997,with the aim of consolidating a common market by 2005
With formal supranationalism: enjoy primacy over national law, and monitored by common institutions
The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) in 2008: to bring together Andean integration and MERCOSUR
MERCOSUR remained an imperfect customs union, towards a political project
Evolution of regionalism

16. 02 Regionalism in the Americas
Latin American regionalism in 19th century
British North America
The United States of America (1865)
Canada in 1867.
Spanish America/ Hispanic America
The Federal Republic of Central America ( ).
The Federal Republic of Greater Colombia/ Gran Columbia ( )
Simón Bolívar proposed creations of unions:
closer regional unity, mainly for political and (external) security reasons
 National sovereignty, continental identity as ‘America’ and ‘Latin America’
First Pan-American Conference in Washington ( )
The Organization of American States (OAS) in 1948.
Inter-American Development Bank and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
USA, Canada, Mexico
Broader in scope (e.g. agriculture)
Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA)

17. Evolution of regionalism02
Regionalism in Africa
First stage of pan-African organization was primarily political in nature
The Organization of African Unity (OAU) created in 1963, was dedicated to ending colonialism and establishing political liberation.
Later combined with the African Economic Community (AEC) as the African Union (modelled on EU)
There was also a move towards continental coordination of the multiple regional arrangements that had grown up.
Suffers from various institutional weaknesses
 Regional organizations became active in conflict management. E.g. ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) intervened in Liberia in 1990
a formal arrangement for separate armies to work together.
Within Africa, ECOMOG represented the first credible attempt at a regional security initiative since the Organization of African Unity
Evolution of regionalism

18. 02
Regionalism in Africa
……Contemporary regionalism emerged with politics of anti-colonialism, often on the basis of pre-existing colonial agreements.
Common currency as the CFA franc was created in 1945.
In Central Africa, a monetary union guaranteed by France and a formal customs union were created in 1964
 The Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC)
The Southern African Customs Union (SACU)
Common external tariff, revenue-sharing mechanism, Common Monetary Area
East African Community (EAC) in A customs union formally came
into effect in 2005, and a Common Market Protocol in 2010
……In the 1970s and 1 980s, a variety of other regional organizations emerged
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 1975 between the francophone countries which are also members of WAEMU, and the Anglophone countries of West Africa.
A Preferential Trade Area, cutting across eastern and southern Africa, was created in  the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) in 1994

19. 02 Regionalism in Asia The first post-war organizations:
The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) in 1954
The Association of Southeast Asia (ASA, 1961) and MAPHILINDO (1963) to promote regional solidarity.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1967 (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand)
 Failure to prevent conflicts in the region would invite external intervention intra-regional tensions
Proceed by small, informal, and voluntary steps eventually be more binding and institutionalized.
Signing of the Declaration of ASEAN Concord and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, which reaffirmed the principles of mutual respect, non-interference, and peaceful settlement of differences.
Sought to affirm its identity and centrality in early 1990s. On the security front, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) came into effect in 1994, with the aim of pursuing confidence-building measures, preventive diplomacy, and eventually conflict resolution
Established three communities for security, socio-cultural, and economic cooperation by Achievements such as the agreement on visa-free travel with in ASEAN are noteworthy
The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) aim to go beyond a free trade area towards a single market, dealing with non –tariff barriers, facilitating trade in services and enhancing investment opportunities.

20. Regionalism in Asia 02
The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 1989 formed on the principle of 'open regionalism'. Involves no discrimination vis-a-vis other countries, nor reflecting distinctive regional identity.
China, Japan, and South Korea as 'ASEAN plus Three' (APT), the Asian financial crisis of provided driving force for regional cooperation and a new format of cooperation
Strengthening of ASEAN's institutional arrangements in 2003: a new formal dispute-settlement mechanism was created, and the role of the secretariat was reinforced, together with a development fund and increased institutional involvement of the business sector.
……Asian regionalism is thus evolving on two planes.
ASEAN continues to move towards some institutional deepening as a means to preserve its own position South East Asian countries continue to develop closer ties, strengthen their common institutions, and open their markets towards each other.
Regional agreements reflect rivalries between the major powers. Comprehensive economic cooperation agreements were signed with China, Japan, and India in the course of the 2000s. China has given preference to the 'ASEAN plus Three' format, while the proposals made since 2002 by Japan for an East Asia Community have been based on 'ASEAN plus Six', also including India, Australia, and New Zealand,

21. 02 Regionalism in Eurasia and the post-Soviet states
A complex and shifting pattern of regional agreements has resulted from the efforts of the former components of the Soviet Union to settle down in a zone of cooperation and competition between Russian, Chinese, and EU influence.
The Commonwealth of lndependent States (CIS) was created in 1991 among all the former Soviet republics except the three Baltic states and Georgia
The Eurasian Economic Community (2006), with Central Asian Republics (other than Turkmenistan) with Russia and Belarus.
A customs union in 1995 between Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan.
The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in 2002, comprising Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
The shifting patterns of these sub-regional organizations reflect not only evolving relations between the newly independent states and Russia, but should also be understood against the background of rivalries between Russia and China, as well as partially shared concerns between those two powers as to the role of the USA, with its military presence in the context of operations in Afghanistan.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
It promotes confidence-building actions, and various forms of cooperation, including collaboration to counter terrorism and weapons smuggling.
SKIP

22. 02 Regionalism in Eurasia and the post-Soviet states
In the area of Ukraine and the Caucasus
Evolution of sub-regional agreements has had more to do with support for the consolidation of democracy, as well as management of local conflicts, in the context of a certain rivalry for influence between Russia and the European Union.
The GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development in 1997 as a forum for cooperation without Russia, later consolidated with a new Charter in 2006.
A Community of Democratic Choice (2005), with aim of promoting 'democracy, human rights, and the rule of law'.
The 1992 Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) links Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, and the Ukraine to Turkey, as well as Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Moldova, Romania, and Serbia.
SKIP

23. 02 The process of European integration
The European Coal and Steel Community (1951) and European Economic Community and the European
Atomic Energy Community (1957)
 Powers have been extended to include new legislative competences in some fields such as the environment.
Since the 1992 Treaty on European Union (1993),
The integration process also involved the adoption of stronger forms of unification (monetary union), as well as other forms of cooperation (E.g. more intergovernmental cooperation in foreign and security policy.

24. 02 The process of European integration
……Regionalism after 1945 as a gradual process of integration leading to creation of EU.
The European Coal and Steel Community in 1951
The European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community in 1957
Succeeded in supranational management of coal and steel. (and common policies in trade, agriculture…)
Was able to include new fields such as environment later on.
1992 Treaty on European Union Monetary unions (adoption of stronger forms of unification,)
***From very limited beginnings, European union gradually developed to become an important political and economic actor whose presence has a significant impact, both internationally and domestically.
The institutions of the EU have been given considerable powers to adopt decisions and manage policies, although the dynamics of decision making differ significantly across various arenas.
EU is increasingly seen as a system of multilevel governance, involving a plurality of actors: supranational, national, and sub-state. (as there are a host of state, non-state, and transnational actors’ participation)
The European Coal and Steel Community (1951) and European Economic Community and the European
Atomic Energy Community (1957)
 Powers have been extended to include new legislative competences in some fields such as the environment.
Since the 1992 Treaty on European Union (1993),
The integration process also involved the adoption of stronger forms of unification (monetary union), as well as other forms of cooperation (E.g. more intergovernmental cooperation in foreign and security policy.

25. 02 The process of European integration
Debate among integration theorists
The exchange between 'supranationalist‘ and 'intergovernmentalist' // approaches had the greatest impact on the study of European integration.
 Supranationalists: Politics above the level of states is regarded as the most significant, and consequently the political actors and institutions at the European level receive most attention.
 Intergovernmentalists: Regard states as the most important aspect of the integration process and consequently concentrate on the study of politics between and within states.
***No analysis of the EU is complete without studying both the operation and evolution of the central institutions and the input from political actors in the member states.
In recent debate: the difference between rationalist and constructivist approaches.
Constructivists:’ tendency of rationalist studies to
privilege decision-making over agenda-setting, and outcomes over process.
The social constructivists:
Framing of issues before decisions about them are made
Emphasizes the role of ideas, discourses, and social interaction in shaping interests
The European Coal and Steel Community (1951) and European Economic Community and the European
Atomic Energy Community (1957)
 Powers have been extended to include new legislative competences in some fields such as the environment.
Since the 1992 Treaty on European Union (1993),
The integration process also involved the adoption of stronger forms of unification (monetary union), as well as other forms of cooperation (E.g. more intergovernmental cooperation in foreign and security policy.

26. 02 The process of European integration
……Would a enlarged European Union find it difficult to take decisions and maintain a reliable legal framework?
One of the driving forces towards efforts to 'streamline' the Union's institutional structure and decision-making procedures. (E.g. the 2007 Lisbon Treaty)
……Also, the global economic and financial crisis has constituted very particular challenges, as they share a single currency. Rising debt levels and eventually unsustainable interest rates threatened stability of the zone.
Setting up of significant stability funds.
Discussion of more wide-ranging reforms that would provide for a stronger institutional framework in economic governance
The crisis has raised questions about the EU's capacity to continue to deepen integration in such a manner without greater societal support for solidarity among and across the member states…….
The European Coal and Steel Community (1951) and European Economic Community and the European
Atomic Energy Community (1957)
 Powers have been extended to include new legislative competences in some fields such as the environment.
Since the 1992 Treaty on European Union (1993),
The integration process also involved the adoption of stronger forms of unification (monetary union), as well as other forms of cooperation (E.g. more intergovernmental cooperation in foreign and security policy.

27. Conclusion and questions3
Conclusion and questions

28. Conclusion 03
Regionalism is one aspect of the process of globalization, and different parts of the globe are looking for different ways to accommodate themselves within the globalized world order, and regional arrangements are one important way of doing so.
The creation of regional governance structures is not a contradiction to globalization but the expression of local attempts to accommodate and respond to its challenges.
Despite the observation of a global trend towards greater regionalism, important differences remain between the depth and the scope of regional institutions that develop in different parts of the globe.
Regional cooperation and integration are not linear processes, but depend on the varying contingencies that provide opportunities and limits in different regional contexts.

29. Questions 02
What are the positive effects brought by regional integration?
What are the costs of regional economic integration?
Do you think the European monetary union is sustainable?
What role can regional organizations play in maintaining peace and security?