Subregionalism And World Order

Subregionalism and World Order brings together the work of a diverse range of area specialists in its treatment of sub-regional cooperation schemes. Sub-regional projects covered include the Central European Free Trade Area, the Black Sea Economic Scheme, Ecowas in West Africa, Mercosur, The Association of Caribbean States, Chilean strategies of subregional cooperation, the 'Greater China' project, Asean and the East Asian Economic Caucus. This is the first volume of its kind to embrace such a geographically diverse treatment of the subregional system. Through comparison of the various schemes it also seeks to mount a case for a 'new IPE' perspective in the understanding of subregional cooperation.

In the context of the end of the Cold War and the spread of globalism, sub-regions are attracting attention as new social units of international society never before observed. In the "second wave" of regionalism that became active in the 1980s, a new regionalism, which differed qualitatively from the old regionalism, expanded globally. This "new regionalism" is characterized by multi-dimensionality, complexity, fluidity, and non-conformity, and within it we cannot overlook the fact that spaces on a new scale, such as sub-regions, are being formed in various parts of the world. The sovereign state system that has continued unbroken since the Westphalia Treaty is being transformed, and within this context, the increase in the number of sub-regions as new social units adds to the sense that we have arrived at a post-Westphalian international order. This book focuses on sub-region as a new social unit of international society. It is based on the findings obtained through meticulous fieldwork and joint studies conducted over the past 10 years by about 20 researchers, primarily from Japanese universities and Chiang Mai University, Thailand. The sub-regions described here are mostly international cross-border spaces or units in the interior of a certain region, which include: multiple states, states and parts of states, or more than two parts of states (often referred to as micro-regions). Such sub-regions have been formed in various parts of the world since the end of the Cold War. However, studies on sub-regions remain unexplored in the existing studies of regionalism. The few studies that do exist mainly focus on the economic aspects of sub-regions. In contrast, this book will specifically examine the sub-regions in Asia (especially the Mekong region and Europe) as main cases from a political science and international relations perspective, aiming to establish a new/alternative international relations by carving out a political angle of sub-region as a new social unit of international society and attempting to shift the paradigm of conventional international relations. To understand the political dimension of a sub-region, this book will mainly focus on three aspects: sub-regions and state strategies, bottom-up dimension of sub-regions, and sub-regions and borders.

Microregionalism and World Order is a pioneering work on the least understood aspect of regionalism. Leading specialists analyze the form microregionalism takes in different parts of the world, including the Americas, Asia Pacific and Africa. By illustrating the complex relationship amongst the political, economic and social dimensions of microregionalism, the book seeks to contribute to the theoretical debate on regionalism as well as to provide new empirical insights.

The book critically analyzes the ongoing changes in the regional, intra-regional, and global dynamics of cooperation, from a multi-disciplinary and pluralist perspective. It is based on the insight that in a post-hegemonic world the formation of regions and the process of globalization can be largely disconnected from the orbit of the US, and that a plurality of power and worldviews has replaced US hegemony. In spite of these changes, most existing analyses of current changes in the world order still rely upon Western-centered approaches, and Westphalian thinking. Against this backdrop, the book proposes to advance a truly global IR understanding of the post-hegemonic world, and weaves together the pluralist and multi-disciplinary perspectives of scholars located all around the world.

This book investigates the origins and dynamics of sub-regional phenomena based on international river basins, namely the Mekong and Danube rivers. It emphasizes the integration process of the Greater Mekong Sub-region and the European Strategy for the Danube Region, which are located in two different geopolitical and structural settings—one in Southeast Asia in the regional context of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the other in Central and Eastern Europe within the regional context of the EU. By comparing two unique case studies within different structural settings, additional and valuable insights into the occurrence and formation of sub-regional integration processes are provided, enabling an evaluation of similarities and differences. Understanding sub-regional integration dynamics requires not only ‘looking upward’ to the regional and even the global level, but indeed ‘looking downwards’ to the local level. After all, sub-regional integration processes are generally described as ‘bottom-up’ processes, based on local interests and expectations. Despite the growing number of sub-regional projects, sub-regionalism remains inadequately studied in the field of political science, and, as such, this book offers unique contributions to the understanding of sub-regional integration processes. Consequently, it will be of interest to readers who are interested in regional and sub-regional integration processes, as well as those with a specific interest in both the EU and ASEAN geographic regions.

This book provides a broad overview of Professor Raimo Väyrynen’s academic work, his role in international research organizations, and his contributions to policy debates. It offers an interesting review of important political issues during the time span of half a century, from disarmament in Europe to the changing relationship between state sovereignty and transnational forces. Väyrynen has dealt with the changing agenda of peace and international relations, security and the arms race, and the world economy. This book provides comprehensive analyses of the regional and systemic structure of international relations, with the emphasis on conflicts and warfare between nations. It argues that while states, even smaller ones, still matter, transnational issues are increasingly important. Taking a historical perspective, the articles suggest that large-scale violence and arms races have been recurrent and cyclical phenomena in international relations. These events reflect the deep-seated inequalities in the political and economic systems which, moreover, vary considerably between regions. The publication is important reading for any researcher as well as students, policy-makers and the science-oriented public at large. • Traces the changing agenda of international relations from disarmament and the world economy to the changing relationship between state sovereignty and transnational forces. • Provides analyses of the regional and systemic structure in international relations, with the emphasis on conflicts and warfare. • Argues that large-scale violence and the arms race have been recurrent and cyclical phenomena in international relations. • Reviews important political issues from peace and conflict in Europe to the changing power relationship in the world.

This book brings together the many different institutions and ideas to be found under the label of 'regionalism'; it places the revival of regionalism in a broader historical perspective; it asks whether there are common factors behind the revival of regionalism in so many different parts of the world; and it analyzes the cumulative impact of different brands of regionalism on international order. Leading specialists examine recent developments in regional cooperation in different parts of the world. They take a critical look at recent trends towards the new regionalism and regionalization, assessing their origins, their present and future prospects, and their place in the evolving international order. As well as concentrating on specific regions, including Pacific-Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Middle East, the book looks at theories of regionalism, the balance between regionalization and globalization in the world economy, the relation between regional organizations and the United Nations, and the relationship between the revival of regionalism and questions of identity and nationalism.