Routledge Roads to Regionalism: Genesis, Design, and Effects of Regional Organizations (New Regionalisms Series)

Over the past few decades states all around the globe have intensified institutionalized cooperation at the regional level. To deepen our understanding of state-led regionalism, the authors use an analytical framework comprising four main strands. First, they describe and explain the genesis and growth of regional organizations. Second, they account for institutional design, looking at important similarities and differences. Third, they examine the interaction between organizations and member states in an attempt to reveal factors that shape the level of commitment to and compliance with regional initiatives. Finally, they consider the impact of regional organizations on their member states. They conclude by providing a foundation for future research on the dynamic development of regionalism. Review 'This excellent volume is a valuable source of new knowledge of 'old' regionalism and an inspiring guide for further research. It succeeds in clarifying convincingly different aspects of the dynamics between ROs and their member states. It carefully avoids two typical pitfalls; a normative bias (regionalism as intrinsically good or bad) and Euro-centrism. It shows the usefulness of theoretical pluralism and the fruitfulness of sound comparative work, explaining similarities and differences in such widely diverging contexts as Eurasia, the Arab world, Africa, Asia and the Americas. It raises questions which will guide future research on old and new regionalism alike.' Anna van der Vleuten, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands 'This very well researched volume is a valuable contribution to the study of regionalism and regional organizations. It covers most relevant contemporary regional organizations through four central aspects: their genesis and growth, institutional design, member-states behavior and effects of member-states. The analysis includes economic, cultural, political and institutional characteristics of organizations in an analytical framework that allows for great complexity. The volume succeeds in building a much needed bridge between European Integration studies and the New Regionalism Approach, and in making a case for the importance of regional organizations in the emerging systems of global governance.' Andrea Ribeiro Hoffmann, Universität Erfurt, Germany 'A theoretically-eclectic volume resulting from dedicated workshops on the topic, it offers a common framework for understanding variation in the role of regional organizations across the world. The editors should be congratulated for gathering a new generation of scholars bound to expand the analytical and empirical horizons in the study of regionalism.' Etel Solingen, University of California, Irvine, USA '... readers interested in regionalism will find the volume helpful and inspiri About the Author Tanja A. Börzel is Professor of Political Science and Chair of European Integration at the Free University Berlin, Germany. Lukas Goltermann is a research assistant at Humboldt University Berlin, Germany. Mathis Lohaus is a research assistant at the Collaborative Research Center 'Governance in Areas of Limited Statehood' Berlin, Germany. Kai Striebinger is a PhD candidate at the Berlin Graduate School for Transnational Studies, Germany.