Regionalism and the EU Flashcards
Regionalism
cooperation between neighbouring states and strengthen their collective identity by creating regional institutions
Economic regionalism
Economic regionalism is the process by which nation states within the same geographical location eliminate or significantly reduce customs barriers (tariffs) between them. As a result of this a free-trade area is created, so encouraging greater regional trade and investment.
–> Free trade area– an area of no tariffs
–> Customs union – free trade between states plus one common external tariff
–> Single market – e.g. for the EU –> free movement of people, goods, services, capital.
Why have states pursued a policy of economic regionalism?
- An increase in export markets
- Can be a form of protectionism
- -> prevents a market being flooded by foreign competition
- Increase in negotiating power
- -> The EU has just done a trade deal with Japan
- Lessen the likelihood of conflict
Examples of economic regionalism
EU
–> Best example of wide and deep integration/ advanced form of economic regulation.
NAFTA- USA, Canada, Mexico
- -> To be replaced by USMCA
- -> US, Mexico, Canada agreement
ASEAN
Association of South East Asian Nations
–> Form of protection from China?
• Security regionalism
–> Regional organisations combining their military and intelligence resources to maintain regional peace and ensure security.
Security regionalism was created in an attempt to stop conflict between neighbouring states.
How do states try to increase security regionalism?
- Increase the interdependence of states
2. Regional security organisations can be created which bind states in opposition to an external enemy e.g. NATO
• Political regionalism
Why do states want this?
- When states with similar political cultures and values come together to increase their global political influence.
Why?
To encourage cooperation and increase their influence, in pooling their sovereignty perhaps it is a way of protecting it in an era of globalisation
What are the 2 different kinds of regionalism?
+ examples
- Intergovernmentalism
- -> Interaction among states in the basis of sovereign independence.
- -> Found in treaties organisations and alliances
- -> Sovereignty may be preserved through opt outs and vetoes. - Supranationalism
- -> An authority higher than the state. Sovereignty is transferred or pooled.
- -> Typically found in organisations
- -> States are legally bound by decisions. Sovereignty undermined
UNSC –> Supranational –> Can authorise sanctions and interventions
ICC –> Supranational –> Can issue arrest warrants for alleged war criminals
Defenders of Economic Regionalism
Economic regionalism promotes trade and financial cooperation within the member states.
E.g. those in favour of staying in the EU argued that EU countries were the UKs greatest trading partners and remaining in the EU would ensure continued access to the EU market which is necessary for the UK economy as it would continue to strengthen their economies in a globalised world.
–> States that work together can ensure their success in a global market better than states working independently.
Economic regionalism increases the negotiating power of smaller states
E.g. smaller EU countries have access to Eu trading partners, such as Japan, who would have otherwise not have done a trade deal with said small country by itself.
Political Regionalism:
Defenders of regionalism argue that the extent to which organisation encourage immigration depends on the organisation.
E.g. NAFTA could actually be reducing the need for Mexicans to move to the US in order to find work by stimulating the Mexican economy.
Critics of Regionalism
Economic Regionalism:
Economic regionalism has been criticised by economic isolationists
e.g. Trump who saw the NAFTA deal as unfair to the USA.
–> This highlights one of the main problems; there will always be individual states who accumulate major advantages from the organisation and others who will benefit less.
E.g. some argued that the EU was costing the British economy huge amounts of money and that EU regulations were stifling British competitiveness. They argued that leaving the EU would give the UK access to the global market which would be a huge benefit and leave the UK more economically competitive.
Disruptive economically and culturally
–> Critics of regionalism argue that it is another way for strong states to come together in order to exclude weak states from economic cooperation.
–> Critics further state that economic regionalism leads to protectionism.
E.g. The EU has one common external tariff which makes it harder for the EU to do trade with emerging economies as they have to pay tariffs to do business with the EU. Therefore, it limits trading opportunities. Protectionism can lead to higher prices and lower innovation.
Furthermore, critics have also accused regional organisations of helping TNCs to expand their influence rather than benefiting the lives of citizens.
Critics of political regionalism
Critics argue that political regionalism undermines state sovereignty and nearly always results in some states taking on policies they would not otherwise agree to.
E.g. In the EU with the ECJ
Critics further say that political regionalism undermines democracy as when states pool their sovereignty they give up their ability to govern their own territory alone.
–> e.g. The EU undermines democracy because the people of the UK are being governed by laws which they did not vote for.
Arguments the EU is a global actor
- Political influence
The EU is the one of the only supranational organisations in the world allowing it to make a claim to speak with one voice in foreign policy.
The EU has clear unifying ideals, this gives the EU real soft power as it is seen as the home of the protection of human rights and the gold standard of democracy. Other states wish to emulate this e.g. The African Union
Arguments the EU is not a global actor
- Political influence
We cannot ignore that the political vision of the EU suffered a serious loss with Brexit. The UK is one of the richest countries in the world with a huge amount of soft power which has rejected the EU.
Intergovernmentalism persists in key policy areas –> Defence
Arguments the EU is a global actor
- Economic influence
The EU holds massive global economic power as it is the second-largest economy in the world by nominal GDP and is the second largest exporter of goods after China.
The EU is the world’s largest single market and the level of interconnectedness between the EU member states economies is greater than any other group of states.
–> Protected by common external tariff and negotiates as a bloc.
The EU has influenced other states attempting to form economic regional organisations e.g. NAFTA
Arguments the EU is not a global actor
- Economic influence
Economic issues which the EU has had over the years e.g. the eurozone crisis, has led many to lose faith in the single currency.
Most economic growth is found outside of the EU in developing countries.
Furthermore, the EUs economic influence has been further undermined by Brexit as it has taken away one of the largest economies from the EU and has also indicated that the economic benefits of the Eu are not enough to keep a state within the union.
Arguments the EU is a global actor
- Structural influence
The EU has significant influence over other states in the form of soft power with many states still keen to join in e.g. Turkey.
The EU has made changes to its structure in efforts to become more efficient, strengthening the role of its institutions and giving it a clear figurehead.
Arguments the EU is not a global actor
- Structural influence
The EU’s diverse set of interests challenges its ability to agree on cohesive policies which hampers the EU’s ability to act as a unified player on the global stage.
Britain’s decision to leave the EU has proved detrimental to the EU’s structural power as the UK is one of the key EU powers which has boosted the EU’s overall influence of the global stage.
Arguments the EU is not a global actor
- Military influence
One of the EU’s biggest weaknesses is the fact that it lacks a central military. The EU currently relies on NATO which has led to some seeing the EU as the US’s military puppet
North American Free Trade Agreement
NAFTA
Founded in
Members
Type of regionalism
Key features
Founded in: 1992
Members: USA, Canada, Mexico
Type of regionalism: Economic regionalism
Key features:
- Free trade area
- -> Eliminated tariffs and non-tariff barriers
- Made it easier to invest between states
- Intergovernmental in nature and seeks to preserve sovereignty
African Union
AU
Founded in
Members
Type of regionalism
Key features
Founded in: 1999
Members: Universal membership –> 55 African states
Type of regionalism: Security and Political regionalism
Key features:
Larger membership may hinder effective decision making
They are looking for a high level of political integration
Arab League
Founded in
Members
Type of regionalism
Key features
Founded in: 1945
Members: 22 states in the middle east and North Africa
Type of regionalism: Political and security
Key features:
Unity is a problem, members have often struggled to agree or act in unison.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Founded in
Members
Type of regionalism
Key features
Founded in: 1967
Members: 10 members
Type of regionalism: Economic and political
Key features:
- aim to promote trade
- protect themselves against Chinese domination
- social aims to combat certain issues such as health
- aim to defend member sovereignty
European Union
what is it
The European Union is sui generis international organisation made up of 28 highly integrated European countries governing social, economic and security policies.
