Regional integration and territorial development in Latin America / Paolo Giordano, Francesco Lanzafame, and Jörg Meyer-Stamer -- Free trade agreements and asymmetries : proposals to foster gains from trade / Inés Bustillo and José Antonio Ocampo -- Comparative integration patterns : transatlantic lessons / Raúl Hinojosa-Ojeda -- Compensating asymmetries in regional integration agreements : lessons from Mercosur / Roberto Bouzas -- Differential regional competitiveness : opportunities and constraints / Ann Markusen and Clélio Campolina Diniz -- The regional challenge : European and Latin American experiences / Francisco Xabier Albistur Marin -- Globalization and local policy implementation : the challenge to practitioners / Greg Clark -- Local economic development : what makes makes it difficult, what makes it work / Jörg Meyer-Stamer.
Essay from the year 2011 in the subject Politics - Other International Politics Topics, grade: 2.0, University of Bath, language: English, abstract: ‘[T]he long history of failed regional agreements in South America and some developments in the integration process have raised some doubts about the capacity of bloc members to accomplish their ambitious intentions’. The hesitant progress in Latin American regional integration (Mercosur) caused increasing distrust if the uneven distribution of power resources and abilities within the region can lead to successful and steady integration processes. Is the regional hegemon Brazil perhaps too powerful in order to let this demanding project succeed? Power configurations in regional orders are, so will be argued, a double-edged sword: While asymmetric power structures are possibly a prerequisite for deepening integration processes, but they can also cause conflict between less powerful states on the one hand and leading ones on the other. According to power transition theory, satisfaction about the prevalent power structures among actors can be assumed to be the second precondition for effective integration. Conflict is then guaranteed when power parity between two or more dissatisfied actors is established. Both perspectives will be discussed and assessed in the subsequent sections, after the concept of power in multilateral relations is defined and asymmetries detected. Two examples, the European Union and Mercosur, shall exemplify the efficacies and tensions behind imbalanced power structures among regional powers and their will and ability to integrate further.
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial; min-height: 11.0px} This book analyses the main factors influencing the political economy of Africa’s asymmetrical regionalism, focusing on regional and sub-regional trade, investment, movement of people, goods and services. It pays particular attention to the way in which regional and sub-regional dynamics are impacted by extra-regional relations, such with the EU, US, China and India. Because African regionalism is influenced not only by economic processes, peace and security are also analysed as important factors shaping both regional and sub-regional relations and dynamics.
English Abstract: FTAs have gained prominence in the trade policy of Latin American countries to the detriment of other forms of economic integration. In this trend there is a predominance of south-north schemes, where all kinds of asymmetries are evident. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that the reduction of asymmetries should be a primary goal of the FTAs. The methodology is a review of literature on Latin American FTAs with the United States, particularly those signed by Mexico, Chile and Colombia. As a result, we see that an appropriate treatment of the differences between involved economies is not only desirable for the development of Latin American countries but also it is possible through monetary and industrial policy adjusted to the reality of these countries.Spanish Abstract: Los TLCs han ganado espacios importantes en la política comercial de los países latinoamericanos en detrimento de otras formas de integración económica. En esta tendencia hay preponderancia de los esquemas sur-norte, en donde las asimetrías de todo tipo son evidentes. El objetivo de este artículo es demostrar que la reducción de las asimetrías debería ser un objetivo principal de los TLCs. La metodología es una revisión de literatura sobre TLCs de países latinoamericanos con Estados Unidos, en particular los firmados por México, Chile y Colombia. Como resultado, se observa que un tratamiento apropiado de las diferencias entre las economías no solamente es deseable para el desarrollo de los países latinoamericanos sino que es posible a través de la formulación de políticas monetarias e industriales más ajustadas a la realidad de estos países.Portuguese Abstract: ALCs ganharam política comercial importante em países latino-americanos, em detrimento de outras formas de integração econômica. Nesta tendência, há uma predominância de sul-norte, onde todos os esquemas de tipos de assimetrias são evidentes. O objetivo deste artigo é demonstrar que a redução das assimetrias deve ser a meta principal dos TLCs. A metodologia é uma revisão da literatura sobre o TLC da América Latina com os Estados Unidos, particularmente aqueles assinados por México, Chile e Colômbia. Como resultado, vemos que um tratamento adequado das diferenças entre as economias, não apenas desejáveis para o desenvolvimento dos países latinoamericanos é possível através da política monetária e industrial ajustado à realidade desses países.
The European Union might be the most prominent example of regional integration but it is by far not the only one. The importance of regional integration in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and even in the Pacific Islands region is constantly growing. All these regions aspire for more than pure economic cooperation. In addition to intensified economic cooperation, political, legal and cultural aspects are important factors as well that form a Mixtum Compositum of regional integration elements. The present volume discusses these different components of regional integration in theoretical perspective and in a policy-oriented approach. It contributes to comparative regional integration studies through theoretical analysis and case studies from different regions. Elements of Regional Integration presents the main features of regional integration in an interdisciplinary manner. It addresses scholars of political sciences, economics and law as well as students and is suited as accompanying material for courses.
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.
The slow pace of the Doha Round has boosted the proliferation of regional and bilateral trade agreements. Paradoxically, the more powerful actors, the US and the European Union, who at the same time have benefited the most from the multilateral system, have also been engaged in bilateral and regional negotiations in order to sign WTO-plus agreements with developing countries. Combining a clear theoretical exposition with systematic cross-regional analysis, 'Asymmetric Trade Negotiations' offers a coherent picture of strategic, design and political economy aspects of North-South trade negotiation processes, from African, Asian and Latin American perspectives. Skilled area specialists gather to provide negotiators and policy makers in the South with recommendations, best practices, and benchmarks and contribute to the understanding of these recent processes.
