MACMILLAN MERCOSUR and the European Union: Variation and Limits of Regional Integration

The book draws comparison between MERCOSUR and the European Union to explain variation of regionalism and to expose its limits. The project is based on the idea that contemporary examples of regionalism should be evaluated against several propositions of multiple integration theories rather than against a single theory. In order to systematically explain why and how integration outcomes in MERCOSUR differ from those in the EU, the author develops an analytical framework for the comparison of the two blocs. MERCOSUR is compared with the EU by the use of the various criteria of economic interdependence, economic convergence, intra-bloc size and interest asymmetries, cultural diversity and geostrategic motivations, which are identified as the salient parameters of integration theories.  Review “Particularly helpful to undergraduate students and those new to the field of regional economic integration at a time when such initiatives are proliferating in response to trade protectionism in the United States under the Trump administration.” (Thomas Andrew O'Keefe, President, Mercosur Consulting Group Ltd., and Lecturer, Stanford University, USA) “The author is creative on the methodological ground.  His knowledge of the main theoretical approaches is excellent. His choices of the theories applied to the different themes are convincing.” (Olivier Dabène, Professor, Paris Institute of Political Studies, France) “The book is a pleasure to read. It provides a deep and comprehensive analysis of regional integration in two different parts of the world, with careful attention to both theoretical and methodological considerations.” (Jamal Shahin, Senior Lecturer, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands and Research Professor, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium) From the Back Cover The book draws comparison between MERCOSUR and the European Union to explain variation of regionalism and to expose its limits. The project is based on the idea that contemporary examples of regionalism should be evaluated against several propositions of multiple integration theories rather than against a single theory. In order to systematically explain why and how integration outcomes in MERCOSUR differ from those in the EU, the author develops an analytical framework for the comparison of the two blocs. MERCOSUR is compared with the EU by the use of the various criteria of economic interdependence, economic convergence, intra-bloc size and interest asymmetries, cultural diversity and geostrategic motivations, which are identified as the salient parameters of integration theories.  About the Author Mikhail Mukhametdinov is Visiting Scholar/Fellow at Harvard University, USA.