Prospects for Regionalism Flashcards
prospects for political regionalism and regional governance
global problems need global solutions and regional problems need regional solutions, these solutions can be achieved through regional co-operation or through formal regional organisations
but these increasingly integrated regional organisations are facing difficulties regarding their legitimacy and effectiveness, particularly from a nationalistic and democratic perspective
considerations over regionalism highlight elements of the theoretical debate between realism and liberalism
arguments for more regionalism
countries are queuing up to join the EU and most countries in the world are members of a regional trade bloc, there must be some reason for states to want to do this
ASEAN is continuing to integrate not just economic areas, but also political-security and socio-cultural pillars
the Arab League has been vociferous in the Syrian civil war and has suspended Syria
even with the UK voting to leave the EU, there will probably still be enhanced trade and cooperation between the EU and the UK
the problems that led to the formation of regional organisations have not gone away, issues like climate change and immigration seem likely to get worse, so regionalism is needed
there is a revival of traditional fears in Europe and elsewhere of the power and intentions of Russia, China and North Korea, among others, security is still a key concern for states and people, regional collective security is therefore necessary
arguments for less regionalism
the UK has voted to leave the EU, perhaps the trend is reversing
ASEAN does not take bold steps and there are disagreements over democracy, human rights and good governance in the bloc
beyond strong rhetoric, the Arab League has achieved very little in the Syrian civil war, the countries are too disparate and self-interested
there is significant opposition in the USA to NAFTA and other economic regionalism like TTP and TTIP, as shown through support for Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders in the 2016 election
there is real democratic support for ‘taking control’ of decision-making in the UK, USA and much of Europe. The democratic nation state is still very popular
there is strong reaction to economic globalisation and the power of TNCs, regionalism appears to benefit the big corporations at the expense of the ‘ordinary person’
co-operation is necessary, but it does not have to be achieved through such formal structures, which may seem illegitimate and ineffective
What events have negatively affected the prospects for regionalism and regional governance
With the Brexit vote the election of the isolationist Donald Trump in the USA and the growth of populist nationalism across Europe the future of regionalism has never been less secure
There are opposing forces in the political sphere today not just in the west but across the world
One side wants to increase regional cooperation and proliferation of regional political economic and security organisations while the other side argues that regionalism has already gone too far and that states should focus on pursuing their own interests
pro-regionalism:
Many states desire entry into regional organisations
There is no clearer example of this than Turkey attempting to join the EU
it has applied to join the EU and the EEC before it since 1987
States clearly demonstrate that they see a benefit for joining regional organisations
pro-regionalism:
Regional organisations can increase security in the region
The Arab league suspended Syria because of the government’s conduct during the Syrian Civil War
this was a motion designed to put pressure on the Syrian government But they have been unable to stop the conflict
the ASEAN countries Also meet to discuss security concerns including terrorism and drug trafficking and coordinate their response to these crises
pro-regionalism:
Regional organisations have not yet been able to solve the problems which led to the creation meaning that they are still necessary for tackling these problems
Immigration has become a serious issue which states can better tackle by working together
During the refugee crisis caused by among other factors the Civil War in Syria the European Union has acted as a major force for managing the crisis
During the global financial crisis the EU used it’s considerable financial power to bailout several states including Greece and Cyprus
The EU then forces government austerity programmes on Greece in order to lessen their debt
pro-regionalism:
There is no real alternative to regionalism
Because of the nature of the problems which face states and the necessity to survive in a global market regional cooperation has evolved because it is needed
Reversing the process would make tackling some problems such as climate change regional political and economic exclusion or mass movement of people impossible
The African union for example exists to increase the political voice of African states in the world stage
if the AU were to break up presumably another form of regional organisation would replace it or the African states might lose their influence
anti-regionalism:
Regional organisations can struggle to cooperate on issues over which there is disagreement between the states
In a regional political structure there will always be winners and losers — state who get to make the rules it states who have to take the rules
This is especially true if one state is significantly more powerful than another such as Mexico and the USA in NAFTA
anti-regionalism:
There have been recent campaigns to decrease the power of regional organisations
The campaign for Britain to leave the EU is the most high profile case of a nationstate opting to leave a regional organisation
These demonstrate that although regional organisations arose as a rejection of the concept of nationalism or at least isolationism, nationalism and the concept of national self-determination are still powerful political forces and often exacerbated by regional organisations
anti-regionalism:
Regionalism limits the ability of states to self govern and therefore the ability of citizens to choose their own government which is a key feature of democracy
Therefore regional organisations can be said to undermine democracy
Although it can be argued in response that most regional organisations are intergovernmental and that the governments may well be elected (although they also might not as with the Arab league)
there are still very few cases of elections across regional organisations
anti-regionalism:
Some supporters of internationalism which is the idea that people across the world should unite instead of being separated into nations might seem to be likely supporters of regional organisations
However because regional organisations are limited, none of them contain All nations on Earth and many of them actively impose limits on the membership or tariffs against nations outside of the organisation, internationalists often oppose regional organisations
What events have negatively affected the prospects for regionalism and regional governance
With the Brexit vote the election of the isolationist Donald Trump in the USA and the growth of populist nationalism across Europe the future of regionalism has never been less secure
There are opposing forces in the political sphere today not just in the west but across the world
One side wants to increase regional cooperation and proliferation of regional political economic and security organisations while the other side argues that regionalism has already gone too far and that states should focus on pursuing their own interests
pro-regionalism:
Many states desire entry into regional organisations
There is no clearer example of this than Turkey attempting to join the EU
it has applied to join the EU and the EEC before it since 1987
States clearly demonstrate that they see a benefit for joining regional organisations
pro-regionalism:
Regional organisations can increase security in the region
The Arab league suspended Syria because of the government’s conduct during the Syrian Civil War
this was a motion designed to put pressure on the Syrian government But they have been unable to stop the conflict
the ASEAN countries Also meet to discuss security concerns including terrorism and drug trafficking and coordinate their response to these crises
