Comparative Regionalism: Regional Integration beyond the EU

While the EU is often the primary reference for regional cooperation, and arguably even a good starting point given its high level of integration, there are also diverse institutional designs and political dynamics that shape regional cooperation worldwide that warrant attention. Studying regional agreements such as Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Mercosur, the Pacific Alliance, the Andean Community, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) enables students to develop a comparative understanding of how and why states pursue regional integration in an increasingly multipolar global order.
Drawing on political science and related disciplines, the course explores three central themes: (1) the drivers and motivations behind regional integration; (2) the performance and sustainability of these regional entities; (3) the diffusion and adaptation of institutional models across regions; and (4) forum shopping between regional agreements, including preferential trade agreements (PTAs) and customs unions, and the multilateral trading system. These issues are made relevant by including current geopolitical tensions, supply-chain reconfigurations, societal issues such as the effects of climate and gender equality, and renewed debates over the future of global economic governance.
This course is structured around seminar-style discussions, interactive materials such as short informative videos and in-class polls, and contemporary case studies. Students will also benefit from contributions by invited experts and guest lecturers. By extending the study of regionalism beyond a Eurocentric lens, this course equips students to critically assess regionalism and whether today’s regional dynamics serve as building blocks or stumbling stones for global cooperation.