Regional Organizations
Prof. Philip Yang
National Taiwan University
2015/4/9
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Regionalism
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Regionalism is seen as “a process-oriented
concept that encompasses different
phenomena happening at the various stages of
its formation. These include regionalization
which is often market-driven, follow by
emergence of regional consciousness, and then
deliberate regional inter-state cooperation
leading to regional integration. Regionalism is
therefore not only a geographical concept but a
dynamic process encompassing a
concentration of economic, political and sociocultural linkages.”
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Regionalism vs. Globalism
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Regionalism often put forward as an
alternative to globalism
Globalism: a tendency towards a global
social system, programmatic
globalization, the vision of a borderless
world, the end of geography
Regionalism: the world is large and
heterogeneous; therefore a regional
approach more productive, common
culture and problems
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Regionalism or Regionalization
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Regionalism is created "from above“:
often created by regional governments
through the establishment of regional
IGOs.
Regionalization is a “bottom-up”
process, a more spontaneous process
from within the regions led by economic
investments and societal exchanges.
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Open Regionalism
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Open regionalism basically refers to
nondiscriminatory or nonexclusive
regional trading liberalization. The
concept represents an effort to
achieve the best of both worlds: the
benefits of regional liberalization
without jeopardizing the continued
vitality of the multilateral system.
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Major Regional IGOs
Europe:
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European Union (EU)
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Council of Europe
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North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO)
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European Space Agency (ESA)
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European Free Trade Association
(EFTA)
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America
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Organization of American States (OAS)
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North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA)
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Mercosur (Southern Common Market)
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Andean Community
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Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
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Organization of Eastern Caribbean States
(OECS)
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Central American Parliament
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Africa
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African Union (Organization for
African Unity)
Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS)
Southern African Development
Community (SADC)
Conseil de l'Entente
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Asia
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Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC)
Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN, ARF, ASEAN+3)
South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation (SAARC)
Gulf Cooperation Council
Pacific Islands Forum
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Eurasian
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Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS)
Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO)
Eurasian Economic Community
Black Sea Economic Cooperation
(BSEC)
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Dark Side of Regionalism
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Inward-oriented
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Protectionism
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Blocking stone of globalism
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Opposite of global market order
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Functionalism
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Based on the work of David Mitrany
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Habits of collaboration in functional
areas eventually spill over into the
political sphere.
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The result is greater cooperation
amongst states and the breaking
down of political barriers.
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Against Functionalism
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Regional integration is understood as a
linear process, making explanation of
setbacks impossible.
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States still vigorously guard their
political independence.
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Although functionalism is supposed to
be non-normative, there is a lack of
empirical data to support it.
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Neorealism and Neoliberalism
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Neorealism essentially identifies a global
logic of anarchy and emphasizes relative
gains, making regional cooperation
difficult.
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Neoliberalism does not deny this logic of
anarchy, but emphasizes absolute gains,
making cooperation possible.
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A Reactionary Regionalism?
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Regional initiatives are often
designed to mediate and moderate
external influences, so regionalism
can be seen as a reaction to global
problems.
For example “Asian values” can be
seen as a reaction to Western
modernity, and “fortress Europe” a
reaction to the mass flows of
people caused by globalisation.
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Discussion Question
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Do we need regionalism in East
Asia? What are the
opportunities and dangers of
the developing regionalism
between East Asian countries?
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