WHAT IS THE ROLE OF
REGIONALISM
IN THE FOREIGN POLICY
FORMULATION OF A
STATE?
SITI AFZAN BINTI BAHARUDIN (ZQA180002)
ZQA7013 - FOREIGN POLICY
CONTENT
• Foreign Policy and Regionalism
• Definition – defining Region, Regionalization, Regionalism
• Emergence of Regionalism
• What do Constructivist have to say about Regionalism
• Role of Regionalism in foreign policy formulation of a state
• Case study of Regionalism
• Conclusion
• References
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Foreign Policy & Regionalism
International Relation = the study of state and
non – state actors and their relationship to each
other in the international system
= A pattern of interaction
bilateral
multilateral
regional
Katzenstein (2006, p. 1) defines regionalism as
institutionalized practices
Russett (1967) defines a region based on geographic proximity, social
and cultural homogeneity, shared political attitudes and political
institutions, and economic interdependence.
Regionalism refers to transnational cooperation to
meet a common goal or to resolve a shared
problem or it refers to a group of countries, linked
by geography, history or economic features.
“region” is an ambiguous term in common usage, sometimes used so
broadly that it encompasses all international behavior or organization
that is less than global regardless of geographical content (Nye, 1968)
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Key understanding
Region
Katzenstein (2005, p. 9) puts it, “regions are politically
made.”
Solingen (1998) subsumes a region’s boundaries to
the respective grand strategies of different domestic
political coalitions. Regionalism
Katzenstein (2006, p. 1) defines regionalism as
institutionalized practices
Munakata (2006) “regionalism involves institutions
established by governments to promote regional
economic integration but emphasizes the varying
degrees of commitment by members”
Regionalization
Katzenstein (2006, p. 1) defines regionalization as “a process that engages actors.”
Hurrell (1995, pp. 39–40), regionalization is a feature of regionalism.
Regionalization is “the growth of societal integration within a region and...the
often undirected processes of social and economic interaction.”
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No definite definition Transformation of character
and region
States
Organisations
Political
1. Level of analysis :
division of the world
Economic
2. Study of region
NonState
Actors
Social
groupings
Geographical
Social
REGIONALISM
Distinction
Physical
• Geograpical
• strategic
Functional
• Economic
• Culture
• Environmental
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How Regionalism exist?
Cold
War
•
•
•
•
•
•
Evident most in Europe
“
on the basis of their security and economic concerns
regionalism”
often through superpower intervention
specific with regard to its objectives
concerned only with relations between nation states (bipolar world order : majority
power between 2 states, US – Soviet Union)
concentrate on “physical region”
Old
(i) restoration of regional sovereignty
(ii) establishment of several regional powers dominating their geographical areas
Post
Cold
War
Integration process and Concentrate on “functional region” /non –territorial
“New
(culture, education or market often non purview by non-state actors)
regionalism”
• Driven by economic factors
• 5 principle (Ethier,1998) :
o Small countries linked up with large countries/entity
o Small countries undertake significant economic reform, prior to or simultaneously with
regional integration
o Degree of liberalization is moderate compared to old regionalism
o Agreement are asymmetric *small countries makes more sacrifices / concessions
o Does not confine to reduce or eliminate trade barriers, but also harmonise
•
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Cold War
East
European
West
European
(1949) Council of Europe
• First step towards cooperation.
• Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and
the Netherlands (6 founding members)
(1950s) European Coal and Steel Community
• unite European countries economically and
politically in order to secure lasting peace
• Coal and Steel Treaty - under a common
management. None can on its own make the
weapons of war to turn against the other
(deeper cooperation and common interest) –
regionalism
(1957) The Treaty of Rome creates the European
Economic Community (EEC), or ‘Common Market’.
• goods and services to move freely across borders
28
member states
Common administration (Economic Community – EC)
renamed to European Union (EU)
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What do Constructivist have to say
about Regionalism
• Actors create social facts by assigning functions to
various spatial units.
• Regionalism “are never intrinsic, they are assigned
relative to the interests users and observers” (Searle
1995:19)
• Regions arise from the redefinition of norms and
identities by governments, civic groups and business
firms.
• Instrumental of regionalism : to promote specific
political and economic ends.
It is a
Social Construct
Shape by collective perception of identities
and meanings with ever shifting boundaries
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What is the role of Regionalism?
Drives by
physical region
On notion of
anarchy
fostering and enhancing state security
leads sovereign states to work to control
specific territories
Drives by
functional region
institutional development
(education, economic, culture)
does not need the
assumption of
anarchy
helps the regions and the countries within
in achieving Self-reliance, with respect to
their social development, economic needs,
technological needs, etc.
reinforce societal viability by including
social security issues and an element
of redistribution.
Source : www.insightsonindia.com
To seek recognition as a power bloc /
balance of power
collective bargaining power (provide
strength to the regions which were earlier
neglected) on the level of the region could
improve the economic position of
marginalized countries in the world
system.
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Case Study 1 : Myanmar
Past / Cold War
State must be selfreliant for Survival
with diplomacy and
deterrence as
instrument of FP)
bilateralism
Neutralism
Low attention to
Regionalism
Realist
Changing of
international and
regional security
and environmental
Post Cold War
Future
Bilateralism + Regionalism + neutralism
Bilateralism + Regionalism + neutralism
Fostering + enhancing state security
(maintaining internal threat-growing
Chinese influence)
“Myanmar always respects suggestions
and advices from friendly nations, BUT
Myanmar will not accept them if they are
in the form of political pressure”
ASEAN Foreign Minister Retreat,17 April
2006
To be relevant by not being isolated
ASEAN way – non-interference in
internal affairs of member states
ASEAN way – informal and
incremental approach to cooperation
– in line with Myanmar military
regime
Realist + Constructivism
Degree of foreign
(extra-regional
power)
interference in
ASEAN affairs
– noninterference in
internal affairs
of member
states
ASEAN
relationship with
external power
(ASEAN – China,
ASEAN States –
foreign forces)
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Effects of Regionalism
As State
Economic
Political
enhance state economic security with
low emphasis on Western cooperation
and investment but more from its own
region
Recognition from other power
countries bloc
free from great power manipulation
Balance of power among states and
towards bigger power bloc
non-interference in each others’ states
ASEAN experience – country potential
and image – participation in subregional organization
Culture
From the region
Social development
MYANMAR
Bigger resources
Political shield with Western
countries and international
organizations
Balance social growth – create
market potential
ASEAN
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Conclusion
(1)
Regionalism is an approach used by State to achieve its national interest by
projecting the nation as a power bloc, tool for a weaker country to be
recognized and participate in the globalization process
(2)
Globalization (economy) drives the expansion of Regionalism
(3)
Regionalism gave rise to an institutions ie ASEAN, NAFTA, etc
Regionalism manifest an interplay trends “An urge of the state for self-preservation,
security and furtherance of their national interests; relative inability of the individual
nation-state to achieve these objectives single handedly or on basis of their own
strength; and disillusionment with the UN as the sole guarantor of international
peace and security” (Frankel 1973,3)
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References
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1944), 80(3), 429-446. Retrieved from
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Frankel, Joseph (1973).International Theory and Behavior of States. London:Exford
University Press
Hurrel, Andrew. (1995) Regionalism in the Americas. In Regionalism in World Politics:
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Hurrel. Oxford:Oxford University Press.
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