Regionalism

• What is regionalism?

  Regionalism refers to a strong sense of identity and loyalty towards a particular region or area. States are united by common goals, incentives, interests and aims.
• What are the effects of regionalisation?

  Increased economic integration, cultural exchange, and political cooperation within a specific region.
• What are the challenges of regionalism?

  • Developed countries can stifle the development of undeveloped and under-developed countries
  • Economic depression in one country can trigger adverse reactions across the globe
  • It can increase the spread of communicable disease
  • Greater competition
• What intergovernmentalism?

  Decision making in institutions of global and regional governance, which the nation state is free to accept or reject.
• What is federalism?

  The centralisation of power so that supranational governing institutions can require nation states to act in a certain way, so eroding their sovereignty.
• What is supranationalism?

  Decisions made by a higher authority than a nation state which it must then legally accept
• What is European integration?

  The process by which the EU has developed according to the principle of an 'ever closer union' so that member states' sovereignty is increasingly pooled in supranational institutions of governance.
• What is widening and deepening?


  The process by which a regional organisation gains more members (widening) and its institutions gain more power over collective decisions making (deepening).
• What is a global actor?


  An actor with the ability to project influence globally on economic, political and security matters beyond a particular region.
• What is economic regionalism?

  Economic regionalism refers to the integration of economies within a specific geographic region through trade agreements, common policies, and cooperation.

  Doesn't need a common cultural interest

  Doesn't need long term strategic aims

  Limited erosion of sovereignty - with the exception of a single currency such as the euro
• What is political regionalism?

  • Longer term strategic aims
  • Focuses on resolving challenges and maximising opportunities
  • Relies on shared values to an extent
  • Emphasis on pooled sovereignty
  • Enables states to form common positions
• What is security regionalism?

  • Focuses on defence and security against shared threats
  • Often shared political ties
• What are the arguments for regionalism acting as a building block for globalisation?

  • Compartmentalising the globe - 'global village argument'
  • Blocs have similar goals - makes governance more efficient
  • Compatible with globalisation as has similar processes of cooperation
• What are the arguments for regionalism acting as a stumbling block for globalisation?

  • Regional blocs display 'regional egoism', they are fairly isolationist in policy and only interested in the concerns of their own region
  • Blocs may cut off economically through the implementation of protectionist policies
  • Divides the world into segments
  • Blocs are all different in character so cannot effectively work together
• What is old regionalism?

  Emphasises rational behaviour where cooperation is based on a pre-given set of rules and frameworks?
• What is new regionalism?

  A dynamic approach which focuses more on the social construction of regions
• What is the key main debate over prospects for political regionalism and governance?

  • Political regionalism has had an impact on state, regional and global government
  • Has seen the rise of regional governance with some blocs acting as federal powers
  • Regional blocs offer more easily managed groups of actors, meaning easier negotiations which can create a more allied and unified voice
• What is the key main debate over impacts of state sovereignty?

  Intergovernmental regionalism will have a minimal impact on states' sovereignty.

  Supranational regionalism is more likely to have an erosional effect on state sovereignty however they still have a choice to leave or ignore an agreement.
• What do liberals believe about the impact of regionalism on sovereignty?

  • Cooperation is always good and strengthens states
  • Governance is the only way to deal with a more interconnected world
  • Some issues cannot be dealt with by nation states acting alone
• What do realists believe about the impact of regionalism on sovereignty?

  • Governance is futile
  • Nation states will continue to act in their own self-interest
  • Stronger states will still abuse or ignore the systems
• What are the objectives of the Arab League?

  • Security and political regionalism
  • Intergovernmental
  • Designed to represent Arab interests globally and encourage cooperation among Arab states
• What are the successes and failures of the Arab League?

  • Although Syria has been suspended since 2011, the League rarely achieves consensus, so it lacks a voice in global affairs
  • Its lack of a peacekeeping function is a serious drawback due to the ongoing violence in the Middle East
• What are the objectives of the European Union?

  • Economic, political and security regionalism
  • Intergovernmental and supranational
  • The EU is the world's most advance regional organisation. Its supranational institutions significantly impact on sovereignty.
• What are the successes and failures of the European Union?

  • The establishment of a single market based on the four freedoms and monetary union demonstrates that the EU is achieving 'ever closer union'
  • The Lisbon Treaty (2009) provided the EU structural power by establishing a permanent President
  • The UK's withdrawal and nationalist governments (Hungary, Poland and Austria) shows that the EU has been less successful in forging a common European identity
• What are the objectives of the African Union?

  • Economic, political and security regionalism
  • Intergovernmental
  • Aspires to create a free-trade area with monetary union but so far little progress has been made
• What are the successes and failures of the African Union?

  • Member states have been reluctant to cede sovereignty, this undermines its effectiveness
  • Peacekeeping missions in Mali and Somalia have been successful
• What are the objectives of ASEAN?

  • Economic, political and security regionalism
  • Intergovernmental
• What are the successes and failures of ASEAN?

  • ASEAN has dramatically reduced tariff barriers among its member states
  • Its commitment to member states' sovereignty means that it has made minimal progress in deepening the political connections of its members
• What are the objectives of NAFTA / USMCA?

  • Economic regionalism
  • Intergovernmental
  • UMSCA establishes a free-trade area in North America
• What are the successes and failures of NAFTA /USMCA?

  • Although it is a limited and renewable form of economic regionalism, USMCA requires workers' rights and environmental protection
  • NAFTA was responsible for significantly increasing trade between the member states
  • Trade quadrupled between member states over 20 years
• What are the arguments for regional bodies responding effectively to regional and global challenges?

  • The establishment of economic regional organisations enables them to unite their economic power to achieve better outcomes for their members
  • Regional organisations can combine security interests - EU sanctions on Russia
  • EU used its economic power to encourage human rights protection in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries
  • EU is a world climate change leader with highly ambitious targets
• What are the arguments against regional bodies responding effectively to regional and global challenges?

  • Massive economic power of regional organisations can make it difficult for developing countries to take advantage of globalisation - Doha trade round failed due to EU not opening markets for agricultural products
  • Regional organisations are ineffective in regional and international conflicts as they require unanimity
  • Arab League criticised for not acting on human rights abuses in Syria and Yemen
• What does the European Commission do?

  • Executive branch - proposes laws and represents the interest of the EU
  • 27 commissioners - one from each member state who are responsible for different policy areas
  • Commissioners are nominated by member states and approved by the European Parliament to serve 5 year terms
• What does the Council of Ministers do?

  • EU's legislative branch passes laws in partnership with the European Parliament
  • Comprised of elected ministers from member states who attend to discuss and vote on laws specific to their responsibilities
  • Voting power is weighted
• What does the European Council do?

  • Comprised of heads of government from every member state
  • Usually meets four times a year and agrees on the most important EU policies such as admitting new members, treaty changes and the overall direction of the EU
  • EU leaders can exercise the veto on proposals that threaten their national interest - 2013 Cameron vetoed an update to the Treaty of Lisbon so other members went ahead from the Treaty and UK was exempt from its requirments
• What does the European Court of Justice do?

  • Situated in Luxembourg
  • Judicial branch which ensures that member states act in accordance with EU law in cases where EU law exists
  • EU member states cannot pass domestic laws which aren't in accordance with EU law
  • 27 judges, a judge from each country
• What does the European Central Bank do?

  • Located in Strasbourg
  • Determines monetary policy and sets a common interest rate for the 20 members of the Eurozone
• How does the EU have structural influence?

  • A full member of the G7 and G20
  • Member of WTO - huge economic influence in free-trade negotiation
  • Member of COP
  • EU isn't a full member of the UN, it has enhanced observer status which is more than Vatican City and Palestine
• How does the EU have soft power influence?

  • Paris Agreement - EU was the main global actor prioritising climate change after Trump's administration abandoned it
  • EU has a strong reputation for encouraging peace, liberal democracy and human rights
  • DOES NOT influence authoritarian states like China
  • Failed to encourage India and South Africa to condemn Russia
  • First EU/Arab League summit 2019 Egypt's President told EU 'Respect our values and ethics, as we do yours' in relation to extending human rights
• How does the EU have economic influence?

  • 2022 - had a GDP of $16.6 trillion
  • Free trade agreement with Canada 2016
  • EU - Japan Agreement (free trade) in 2019 which covers almost a third of global GDP
  • Attraction of joining a single market has encouraged stability in the Balkans
  • EU is the world's biggest provider of aid in the developing world