Comparative Regionalism

This course explores the origins, evolution, challenges and effects of regional economic, political and security integration and cooperation in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas The roles and objectives of countries and regions such as the United States, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Brazil, Australia, the European Union, the African Union, ASEAN and MERCOSUR in supporting different types and configurations of regional processes are also examined. Students further explore the attitudes of these countries and regions towards inter-regional and trans-regional arrangements such as ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) and APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation). They investigate the relations of the EU with particular regional organisations, and its role in fostering regional integration in the world and the perceptions of the EU by external actors. Regional processes are analysed using interdisciplinary, historically grounded and comparative perspectives.

Students who successfully complete this course will be expected to demonstrate:

1) a developed understanding of the major political, legal and economic theories of regional integration and regionalism and their relevance to different regional arrangements in the world;

2) an informed appreciation of the similarities and differences among regional arrangements in legal, political and economic terms;

3) an understanding of their impact upon various levels of governance (local, national, regional, global);

4) an appreciation of the evolution of regional arrangements in different parts of the world, including in Europe, Asia, Oceania, the Americas and Africa since 1945, with an emphasis on the post-Cold War period;

5) an understanding of the significance of the European Union and its relations with other regional arrangements in Europe and in the world;

6) an understanding of the roles of the US, the EU and other regions or countries in promoting interregional arrangements such as ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) and APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation).

7) a capacity to identify the factors assisting and impeding regional cooperation or integration.

Face-to-face teaching, lectures, personal work, role-playing sessions.

Références, bibliographie et lectures recommandées

The recommended readings for this course will be uploaded on the intranet (virtual university).

Méthode(s) d'évaluation

• Autre

Autre

Oral presentation with a PowerPoint.

Written research paper (5000 words including footnotes, excluding bibliography and annexes).

Construction de la note (en ce compris, la pondération des notes partielles)

Oral presentation with PowerPoint: 20% of the grade; written research paper: 80% of the grade.

Langue(s) d'évaluation

• anglais