The Scholarly Development of the Field

By tracing the intellectual roots and main characteristics of the scholarly debates on regionalism in different time periods, this Working Paper seeks to contribute to the consolidation of a fragmented field of study in search of its own intellectual history. The paper identifies four main intellectual phases: early regionalism, old regionalism (in both Europe and the developing world), new regionalism, and the current phase of regionalism, referred to as comparative regionalism. It argues that progress in the study of (comparative) regionalism requires a better understanding of the intellectual roots of the field and an acknowledgment of the many types of regions that have occurred in many different historical contexts

Early, old, new and comparative regionalism: the scholarly development of the field

By tracing the intellectual roots and main characteristics of the scholarly debates on regionalism in different time periods, this Working Paper seeks to contribute to the consolidation of a fragmented field of study in search of its own intellectual history. The paper identifies four main intellectual phases: early regionalism, old regionalism (in both Europe and the developing world), new regionalism, and the current phase of regionalism, referred to as comparative regionalism. It argues that progress in the study of (comparative) regionalism requires a better understanding of the intellectual roots of the field and an acknowledgment of the many types of regions that have occurred in many different historical contexts

The problem of comparison in comparative regionalism

There is virtually no systematic debate on the fundamentals of comparative research in the study of international regionalism. The field of research is very fragmented and there is a lack of interaction between EU studies and regionalism in the rest of the world. There is also a lack of communication between scholars from various theoretical standpoints and research traditions. Related to these two divides is the tension between idiographic and nomothetic methodologies. The purpose of this article is to contribute to the largely neglected debate on how to conduct and address three interrelated problems: a conceptual, a theoretical and a methodological one. Our claim is that the future of comparative regionalism should be one where old divides are bridged. This requires a combination of conceptual rigor, theoretical eclecticism, and sounder empirical research methods

What’s wrong with regional integration? : the problem of Eurocentrism

This working paper deals with one of the most pressing problems in the study and policy of regional integration: the problem of ‘Eurocentrism’, which in this context implies that assumptions and theories developed for the study of Europe crowd-out both more universally applicable frameworks and contextual understandings. In their frustrated attempts to avoid Eurocentrism, some scholars dealing with non-European regions tend to treat the Europe as an ‘anti-model’—a practice which often results in a different form of parochialism where context is all that matters. The general ambition of this paper is to contribute to rethinking Eurocentrism and the role of Europe in comparative regional integration. More specifically, the study shows how Eurocentrism (in various guises) is detrimental to theoretical development, empirical analysis and policy debates, claiming instead that European integration should be integrated into a larger and more general discourse of comparative regionalism, built around general concepts and theories, but which is still culturally sensitive

Handbook of regional organizations in Africa

Modern Africa has experienced the creation of more than 500 intergovernmental organizations. Today, well over 200 of these still exist, and new ones are continually emerging. The aim of this book is to provide an up-to-date, user-friendly, annotated reference guide on as many African regional organizations as possible. It is of use to students, researchers, journalists, national and international civil servants and others who need basic information on regional organizations in Africa.Contents: Part I: Main Regional Organizations in Africa -- Continental Organizations -- African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, ACP -- African development Bank, ADB -- Organization of Africa Unity, ECA -- Organizations in Northern Africa -- Arab Maghreb Union, AMU -- Organizations in West and Central Africa -- CFA Franc Zone, CFA -- Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS -- West African Economic and Monetary Union, UEMOA -- Central African Customs and Economic Union, UDEAC -- Organizations in Eastern and Southern Africa -- Preferential Trade Area for Eastern and Southern African States, PTA -- Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, COMESA -- Southern African Coordination Conference, SADCC -- Southern African Development Community, SADC -- Southern African Customs Union, SACU -- Common Monetary Area, CMA – Part II: Other Regional Organizations in Africa </p