regionalism

• The EU is widely agreed to be the most famous example of regionalism, due to the unique level of integration amongst its member states and its expanding membership
• The EU is a collection of 28 European countries and both intergovernmental and supranational institutions, and is designed to promote cooperation centred to its shared values, aims and agreements
• the EU is an example of a regional bloc that focuses on economic and political union. Its member states have integrated so widely and deeply arguably be seen as an example of federalism
• in a federal system, power is shared between a central authority above nation state level and state level authority
• regionalism had ad an impact on the world order and reshaped the international stage, making international relations less state - centric.
• intergovernmentalism is when member states make all of the decisions. decisions are not delegated to separate institutions and non institutions can force states to do something that they do not agree with
• supranationalism is the regional organisation making all of the decisions and imposes them on its member states. The European commission is the only part that can propose new laws and in many policy areas the law will be agreed if at least 55% of the member states representing at least 65% of the EU population agrees.
• The EU has been successful in preventing violent conflict between its member states - 1993 ECSC subsequently became EU and established the Maastricht treaty.

  Eu has left with a legacy and clear mission to promote the liberal values of democracy and freedom - the liberal idea of democratic peace theory
• Economic union: Schengen Agreement have created a travel zone in which there are no border or passport checks and allows free movement of labour

  • goods have freemovemnt in a single market region
  • capital - single currency - move freely
• Key challenges for the euro have included

  • creation of new EU institutions for the Eurozone in the form of the European Central Bank which has the power to set monetary policy for the eurozone area
  • ensuring that members of the eurozone all tax and spend responsibly - bail out Greece
• Social and political union of the EU

  • creation of huge amount of laws
  • reduce unemployment due to the euoprean social fund gives money to projects
  • EU has harmonised labour law
• judicial and policing

  • EU has also introduced close cooperation on justice and policing matters between member states, including coordination of law and enforcement on matters such as international terrorism and organised crime
• • EU has persuasive advocate for human rights - ECHR
  • ECHR has a wider membership than the EU
  • The EU has also established own charter of fundamental rights, which sets out specific rights that should be in place for all European citizens
  • the EU has often been criticised for lacking the means and the will to intervene militarily to uphold human rights - did not play a major role in Yugoslavia
• ASEAN focus is on promoting economic growth as well as peace and stability in the region and it has the aim of becoming a full economic community. they have as security aim to resolve conflicts and allow visa free travel in the region and its security cooperation involves sharing intelligence
• success of ASEAN

  • AFTA was signed, any country that has joined since has had too sign the agreement
  • ASEAN has put pressures on Myanmar to adopt reofrms
  • In 2008, a landmark agreement was ratified which all ten members eventually greened on. it deepens economic integration, turned ASEAN into a legal entity
• failures of ASEAN

  • Criticised for all talk, no action. it relies on consensus and non-interference which has reinforced authoritarian governance in the region
  • The Bali summit saw members back a general democratic principle that is somewhat incongruous with some member states
  • lack of action on Myanmar