Book Flashcards
NAFTA and US Regional Trade Policy. Christian Deblock
The main idea of the chapter is to explore the motivations behind the US decision to negotiate NAFTA and the implications of the agreement for US regional trade policy. The author argues that the US was driven by a desire to maintain its economic dominance in the region and to counter the growing influence of other global powers, such as the European Union and Japan.
Deblock examines the specific provisions of NAFTA and assesses their impact on the US economy, highlighting the benefits and drawbacks of the agreement for US industries, workers, and consumers. He also explores the political implications of NAFTA, including the challenges of enforcing labor and environmental standards, and the tensions between national sovereignty and regional integration.
The author goes on to analyze the broader implications of NAFTA for US regional trade policy, exploring the implications for other US-led regional trade agreements, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).
Deblock concludes by assessing the future prospects for US regional trade policy, arguing that the Trump administration’s protectionist policies and withdrawal from the TPP have signaled a significant shift away from the liberal free trade agenda that has characterized US regional trade policy for the past several decades.
Competing Latin America Regionalism in a Changing World. Sebastian Santander
different approaches to regional integration in Latin America, and the tensions and competition between them. The author argues that there are two main approaches to regional integration in the region: the open regionalism approach, which is based on free trade agreements with external partners, and the closed regionalism approach, which is based on deeper regional integration among Latin American countries.
Santander examines the different regional integration initiatives in Latin America, including the Pacific Alliance, the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). He assesses the strengths and weaknesses of these initiatives and their implications for regional development and cooperation.
The author also explores the broader global context in which Latin American regionalism is taking place, including the rise of new global powers such as China and India, and the changing dynamics of global trade and investment. He argues that these global trends pose significant challenges for Latin American regionalism, and that the region must adapt to these changing circumstances if it is to remain relevant and competitive in the global economy.
Santander concludes by assessing the future prospects for Latin American regionalism, arguing that the region must adopt a more flexible and adaptive approach to regional integration, based on a combination of open and closed regionalism, in order to meet the challenges of the changing global context.
African Regionalism and EU-Africa interregionalism. Frederik Soderbaum
evolution of regional integration in Africa and the relationship between African regionalism and interregionalism with the European Union (EU).
The main idea of the chapter is to explore the drivers and dynamics of African regionalism and interregionalism with the EU, and the implications for regional development and cooperation.
Soderbaum begins by examining the historical and political context of African regionalism, highlighting the role of colonialism and post-colonialism in shaping regional integration initiatives in Africa. He then explores the different forms of regional integration in Africa, including the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the East African Community (EAC), and assesses their strengths and weaknesses.
The author then turns to the relationship between African regionalism and interregionalism with the EU, examining the history and evolution of this relationship, and the challenges and opportunities it presents for both regions. He argues that while interregionalism has the potential to promote trade and development in Africa, it also raises questions about sovereignty and political autonomy.
Soderbaum also assesses the different models of interregionalism that have been proposed, including the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), the Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES), and the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), and evaluates their effectiveness in promoting regional development and cooperation.
The author concludes by assessing the future prospects for African regionalism and EU-Africa interregionalism, arguing that the relationship must be based on mutual respect and cooperation, and that African countries must take a more active role in shaping regional integration initiatives to meet their own development goals.
Southeast Asian and European Integration compared. Kjell A. Eliassen and Agnes Árnádottir
contrast the processes of regional integration in Southeast Asia and Europe.
The main idea of the chapter is to analyze the similarities and differences between the two regions in terms of their approaches to regional integration, the challenges they face, and the implications for their future development.
Eliassen and Árnádottir begin by examining the historical and political context of regional integration in Southeast Asia and Europe, highlighting the role of economic and political factors in driving the processes of integration. They then compare the institutional frameworks of the two regions, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU), and assess their effectiveness in promoting regional cooperation and development.
The authors also analyze the challenges and opportunities facing the two regions in terms of regional integration, including issues related to sovereignty, economic competitiveness, and cultural diversity. They argue that while both regions face similar challenges, they have developed different strategies to address them, based on their unique historical, political, and economic contexts.
Finally, Eliassen and Árnádottir evaluate the implications of these differences for the future development of Southeast Asian and European integration, arguing that there is no one-size-fits-all model for regional integration, and that each region must find its own path based on its unique circumstances.
