Regionalism Flashcards
What is Political Regionalism ?
Political regionalism attempts to strengthen shared values and deepen integration between countries/partners, by mechanisms of Neo-liberal Institutions and the safeguard of sovereignty and power
How many types of Regionalism are there - name them
Economic Regionalism
Security Regionalism
Political Regionalism
What are the three main aims of Poltical Regionalism ?
(1) Strenghten SHARED VALUES
(2) Deepen INTEGRATION
(3) By mechanisms NEO-LIBERAL INSTITUTIONS & Safeguard SOVEREIGNTY & POWER
Define regionalism
Amongst various dimensions Hurrell (1995) defines the process of regionalisation as the “growth of societal INTEGRATION within a region … a process of social & economic INTERACTION” (Hurrell, 1995)
What and when did the ‘two waves’ of regionalism occur ?
The first wave occurred post-Second World War in the period between the 1940s - 1970s.
The second wave 1980s 1990s …. ‘ New Regionalism’ post-Cold War and end of communism.
What is Security Regionalism ?
Security Regionalism may be associated with the underlying threat of communism following the Second World War, the objection being that the integration of neighbouring countries, for example in the European Union would provide peace and avoid conflict.
What was the Truman Doctrine ?
The Truman doctrine was inaugurated in March 1947 due to the underlying perceived threat of communism following the second world war. A form of realist balancing of power, 19 Billion US dollars was injected into Western Europe by the US to promote recovery and ensure adequate military and economic stability in the region.
What was the Cold War ?
The Cold War was a period of instability which occurred post-Second World War 1947 to 1989 when communism was seen to collapse signalling an end to the prevailing bipolarity between the two superpowers of America and Russia. Some suggest that an ideological vacuum ensued; a period of multipolarity, Francis Fukuyama famously suggested an “end to history” as basically there would be no other ideology to counter balance liberal democracy which would therefore go on to dominate the global World order.
What is the link between Regionalism and Security ?
Regionalism was seen to formulate at a time of instability and fear of insecurity. It could be suggested therefore, that its emergence is paralleled to Thomas Hobbes (1651) theory of the social contract (Leviathan), and in effect purposes a resistance or reaction to the perceived threat of globalisation and absence of an overarching world war or global governance. The fear and anxiety which emerged for example post Second World War and which has been seen to increase, prompted a ‘social contract’ afforded by regionalism; an alliance of security via sovereignty and autonomy in the global order. Hobbes social contract could be considered a manipulation of fear and vulnerability by the appointed state; a means to an end.
Describe Hobbes Social Contract theory
Hobbes (1651) Social contract emerged during a time of rcivil war when life was considered by Hobbes to be “brutish and shirt” a “state of nature”. Hobbes suggested a basic exchange or bargaining of rational interests which required the equal collective ‘giving up’ of interests in exchange for the assumption of one overarching authority or sovereign.
What is Sovereignty ?
Sovereignty may be equated as an absolute power, which was evident in historical times with the mono rule of a monarch or sovereign. In contemporary terms, sovereignty represents a supreme power for which there is no higher power above it that may compel, a sovereign state, for example to do anything it does not want to do.
What weaknesses or disputed areas are there associated with regionalism ?
Despite the intended protection of a states autonomy or sovereignty, especially in terms of security regionalism, which is considered a major objective, as the identity of a region is ultimately incoherent, whose identity would matter most in the time of a crisis event. For example, the USA was seen to unilaterally revert to a realist stance in response to 9/11 with its pursual of a war on terror, thus abandoning its notions of liberalism.
Are all types of regional organisations geographical ?
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is considered the flagship of Security Regionalism and is not a geographical construct. A further example is the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) a mult-purpose organisation.
Background facts are there associated with regionalism ?
Regionalism has steadily expanded and displayed significant growth both in overall numbers and range of activities, across the World, with many countries adopting membership to multi organisations, and Mongolio reportedly being the only non-member of any organisation. For example, a recent addition from Asia is the Shanghai Coperation Organisation (SCO) and from Africa the African Union (AU). The European Union (EU) is however, undoubtedly the most prominent and successful example of regionalism.
How do regional organisation accord legitimacy ?
Regional organisations (ROs) are afforded formal status in international law which if further enhanced by recognition of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and multilateral International organisations (IOS) for example the World Trade Organisation (WTO). They are further legitimated regionally by regional norms and practices embracing local cultures.
