Question

how is state-to-state regionalism differs from non-state regionalism?

Answer 1

Regionalism studies are those studies that focus on the middle layer of governance, between the state and the global, that emerge out of concerted processes of regional integration like the EU, the Arab League, NAFTA, CARICOM, and ASEAN. The first two theoretical explanations of this process in South America that we will discuss are New and Old Regionalism.

New Regionalism is an outgrowth of the process of globalization “based on the idea that one cannot isolate trade and economy from the rest of society…” The thesis that social development must accompany economic development for integration efforts to succeed stands in contrast to “Old” Regionalism, (also known as “first generation” regionalism, or “classic” regionalism) which was primarily seen as a process of economic integration. According to De Lombarede, this movement began to gather speed in the late 1980s and is associated with changes in Eastern Europe and the end of the Cold War.

Classic regionalism has been defined as “a theory of co-operative hegemony” and a “planned merger of national economies through cooperation” with the State as the primary reference point. As mentioned, in classic regionalism the Nation-State is the preeminent actor, while new regionalism proponents hold that non-state actors like multinational corporations, non-governmental organizations, and other interested social groups, must be considered when analyzing how and why regions choose to integrate.