This course focuses on the political economy of regionalism [understood as a formal process of inter-governmental collaboration within a specific geographical space]. We begin by examining the principal theoretical approaches to regional integration, drawn from the literatures of both economics and political science. We then consider the experience of various regional institutions in different parts of the world, and how these experiences relate to the theoretical approaches covered in the first part of the course. Our primary focus will be on the Asia-Pacific region but we will also look at the EU and NAFTA.

By the end of this course you shoud be able to:

1. identify the major regional groupings in the contemporary global economy;
2. summarise and compare the principal theoretical approaches to the study of regional integration;
3. design and complete a research project on a comparative aspect of regional integration;
4. evaluate and assess the principal theoretical approaches in the light of your own research.

Seminar paper plus informed informed participation in the seminars in order to identify the major regional groupings in the global economy (10%) (Learning OUtcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4);

Research essay of 3,500 words on an aspect of regional integration to be determined in conjunction with tutor (50%)  (Learning Outcomes 2, 3 and 4);

Final examination of 2000 words on theoretical approaches to regional integration (40%) (Learning Outcomes 2, 3 and 4).

Two-hour seminar per week plus individual study of 8 – 10 hours per week over a 13 week semester.

None

None

Luk van Langenhove, Building Regions: The Regionalization of World Order

Acharya, Amitav, and Alastair Iain Johnston eds. Crafting Cooperation: Regional International Institutions in Comparative Perspective

Access to a computer and the internet