Regionalism and Regional Orders
How regional organizations and identities shape international politics — from the EU to ASEAN, the African Union to Mercosur.
Why Regions Matter
International relations is often taught as a global story dominated by great powers and universal institutions. But most states' most important relationships are with their neighbors. Trade, migration, security threats, and cultural ties are all primarily regional. Regional organizations — formal institutions created by neighboring states to manage shared challenges — have become increasingly important in governing international affairs.
The European Union is the most deeply integrated regional organization, with a single market, common currency (for most members), shared institutions with supranational authority, and a collective foreign policy. ASEAN takes a dramatically different approach, emphasizing consensus, non-interference, and informal consultation — the 'ASEAN Way.' The African Union, successor to the Organisation of African Unity, has the broadest membership of any regional body (55 states) and ambitious goals for continental integration that outstrip its institutional capacity.
