Philippe De Lombaerde – författare

A unique examination of why the quest for global free trade often forgets that trade liberalization is organized regionally rather than multilaterally. There are now more than 250 regional integration initiatives and this number is steadily increasing. This trend raises a key question: What is the impact of regional integration, both for the countries involved and for those excluded from regional integration schemes? Using a combined economic, political science and scientific approach, this book explores how regional integration can be measured and evaluated and delivers comprehensive answers. It looks at the methodological problems involved in designing monitoring tools for regional integration in a systematic way and makes a number of concrete suggestions for designing and organising systems of indicators of regional integration. It also offers a critical overview of available indicators and tools and presents crucial new monitoring instruments.This book will be of great interest to students and researchers of international relations and economics as well as policy makers and professionals within international and regional organizations.

The relationship between global governance and regionalization is fraught with ambiguity. Understanding regionalization in this context requires an understanding of its relationship, and reactive condition, with both the constellations of global governance and globalization. This book presents an overview and explores the distinctive but intersecting trajectories of regionalization and global governance. It surveys: the theoretical debatesthe economic dimensions: multinationals, trade and investment, and labourthe security considerations: armed conflict, conflict prevention and peacekeeping and non-traditional security in Asiathe governing structures: managing contemporary multilevel architecture and cultural policy, leadership and the L-20. The expert and multi-disciplinary editors and contributors survey the context as well as the general character of these projects, together with their links as both parallel mediating mechanisms and distinctive choices for interjecting governance into globalization. Examining these projects in tandem amplifies their importance and enables the contributors to tease out coincidental as well as alternative possibilities in policy direction.This book will be of interest to students and scholars of international relations, area studies, international economics, international political economy, political science, public administration and development studies.

The relationship between global governance and regionalization is fraught with ambiguity. Understanding regionalization in this context requires an understanding of its relationship, and reactive condition, with both the constellations of global governance and globalization. This book presents an overview and explores the distinctive but intersecting trajectories of regionalization and global governance. It surveys: the theoretical debatesthe economic dimensions: multinationals, trade and investment, and labourthe security considerations: armed conflict, conflict prevention and peacekeeping and non-traditional security in Asiathe governing structures: managing contemporary multilevel architecture and cultural policy, leadership and the L-20. The expert and multi-disciplinary editors and contributors survey the context as well as the general character of these projects, together with their links as both parallel mediating mechanisms and distinctive choices for interjecting governance into globalization. Examining these projects in tandem amplifies their importance and enables the contributors to tease out coincidental as well as alternative possibilities in policy direction.This book will be of interest to students and scholars of international relations, area studies, international economics, international political economy, political science, public administration and development studies.

A unique examination of why the quest for global free trade often forgets that trade liberalization is organized regionally rather than multilaterally. There are now more than 250 regional integration initiatives and this number is steadily increasing. This trend raises a key question: What is the impact of regional integration, both for the countries involved and for those excluded from regional integration schemes? Using a combined economic, political science and scientific approach, this book explores how regional integration can be measured and evaluated and delivers comprehensive answers. It looks at the methodological problems involved in designing monitoring tools for regional integration in a systematic way and makes a number of concrete suggestions for designing and organising systems of indicators of regional integration. It also offers a critical overview of available indicators and tools and presents crucial new monitoring instruments.This book will be of great interest to students and researchers of international relations and economics as well as policy makers and professionals within international and regional organizations.

The Regional Integration Manual brings together different methods for monitoring and analysing regional integration processes in a systematic way. Employing a multi-disciplinary approach, it seeks to provide officials in regional organisations, researchers in think tanks, academics and students worldwide with an accessible set of both quantitative and qualitative tools, useful in their day-to-day work.The Manual addresses an increasing demand for such tools, in a world where mechanisms and ideas for effective regional government and governance are in dire need, whereas the monitoring and analytical capabilities of official and non-governmental actors often lag behind. It also addresses a rapidly growing academic community studying the determinants, depth, speed and other characteristics of regional integration and co-operation.Employing a multi-disciplinary approach, The Regional Integration Manual will be of interest to scholars of governance and regional politics as well as policy-makers and those in regional organisations.

The Regional Integration Manual brings together different methods for monitoring and analysing regional integration processes in a systematic way. Employing a multi-disciplinary approach, it seeks to provide officials in regional organisations, researchers in think tanks, academics and students worldwide with an accessible set of both quantitative and qualitative tools, useful in their day-to-day work. The Manual addresses an increasing demand for such tools, in a world where mechanisms and ideas for effective regional government and governance are in dire need, whereas the monitoring and analytical capabilities of official and non-governmental actors often lag behind. It also addresses a rapidly growing academic community studying the determinants, depth, speed and other characteristics of regional integration and co-operation. Employing a multi-disciplinary approach, The Regional Integration Manual will be of interest to scholars of governance and regional politics as well as policy-makers and those in regional organisations.

Developing countries have joined the rapidly growing global system of regional trade agreements (RTAs) over the past years. The drive towards regional integration has advanced with the formation of new markets and groups in Latin America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Oceania with few developing countries remaining outside these regional schemes. This volume looks at how 'getting governance right' is a central element for successful RTA implementation, taking stock of the quality and effectiveness of the monitoring of development country RTAs around the world. Organized by the main world regions and primarily focusing on developing country RTAs, the book also includes two case studies focused on monitoring in developed country regional agreements by way of comparison. The contributors operationalize governance in the context of RTA implementation with a more narrow and technical term of 'monitoring' and provide eight important lessons for assessing monitoring around the world.

Much has been said about the driving forces of region-building processes or regionalization worldwide, yet few systematic and comparative studies have been conducted on how regions can contribute to the building of other regions - and more concretely, how the European Union has 'pushed' for regionalization worldwide. This comparative book investigates the impact that the EU has on regionalization elsewhere through its inter-regional relations. Covering agriculture, trade, ASEAN, NAFTA, MERCOSUR and Commonwealth amongst other topics, it investigates whether the EU contributes directly, as well as indirectly, to increased regional integration in different parts of the world.

This book analyzes the monetary and exchange rate policies in Eastern European countries not covered by the current EU enlargement process. Specifically the book examines the major CIS countries: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and the Ukraine. (The new Eastern European EU members are also frequently referenced for comparison purposes.) Current and prospective monetary policy options are considered and the applicability of the EU monetary integration experience for the CIS countries and the prospects of a monetary re-unification around the Russian Federation are assessed. This is the first book to formally deal with many of these questions.

Combining an analysis of regionalism from a systemic view with a domestic political-economy analysis, this book sheds light on the new dynamics and emerging configurations of regionalisms and interregionalisms in the post-Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Donald Trump’s presidency has transformed trans-Pacific economic and political relations, contrasting sharply with President Obama’s ‘pivot to Asia’ strategy. Unilateralism and bilateralism have returned to the center stage, at the cost of regionalism, interregionalism, and multilateralism. Understanding these new dynamics requires closer examination of the underlying domestic political economies. Examining ten country case studies of multi-actor agency at the national level, expert contributors argue that trans-Pacific relations should not only be explained in terms of the behavior of the major powers, but that medium powers, and even small countries, can exert influence and occupy strategic nodes and contribute to shaping a new international relations network. Their findings will be of interest to scholars of international relations, international political economy, regionalism, and international economics.

China faces significant hurdles in implementing its Belt and Road Initiative. Since its launch a decade ago, the BRI has become a crucial component of Chinese external economic relations. It has the potential to alter the economic and political landscape of Asia but also Europe. As such, the Belt and Road initiative have placed China at the heart of geopolitics in the Eurasian region but also globally. Therefore, China faces significant hurdles in implementing these initiatives, with many countries and organizations around the world becoming increasingly weary of China’s BRI and geopolitical strategy.This book examines these issues of the BRI and analyzes the impact of the BRI on Chinese involvement in Asia and Europe. It sheds light on the strategic responses of host country governments and regional economic organizations, as well as the reactions of Chinese and other multinational companies, and ultimately the Chinese government. This book will appeal to scholars, researchers and practitioners of International Business and Policy, particularly those interested in the BRI and China’s geo-economic influence.The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Asia Pacific Business Review.

China faces significant hurdles in implementing its Belt and Road Initiative. Since its launch a decade ago, the BRI has become a crucial component of Chinese external economic relations. It has the potential to alter the economic and political landscape of Asia but also Europe. As such, the Belt and Road initiative have placed China at the heart of geopolitics in the Eurasian region but also globally. Therefore, China faces significant hurdles in implementing these initiatives, with many countries and organizations around the world becoming increasingly weary of China’s BRI and geopolitical strategy.This book examines these issues of the BRI and analyzes the impact of the BRI on Chinese involvement in Asia and Europe. It sheds light on the strategic responses of host country governments and regional economic organizations, as well as the reactions of Chinese and other multinational companies, and ultimately the Chinese government. This book will appeal to scholars, researchers and practitioners of International Business and Policy, particularly those interested in the BRI and China’s geo-economic influence.The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Asia Pacific Business Review.

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.

Combining an analysis of regionalism from a systemic view with a domestic political-economy analysis, this book sheds light on the new dynamics and emerging configurations of regionalisms and interregionalisms in the post-Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Donald Trump’s presidency has transformed trans-Pacific economic and political relations, contrasting sharply with President Obama’s ‘pivot to Asia’ strategy. Unilateralism and bilateralism have returned to the center stage, at the cost of regionalism, interregionalism, and multilateralism. Understanding these new dynamics requires closer examination of the underlying domestic political economies. Examining ten country case studies of multi-actor agency at the national level, expert contributors argue that trans-Pacific relations should not only be explained in terms of the behavior of the major powers, but that medium powers, and even small countries, can exert influence and occupy strategic nodes and contribute to shaping a new international relations network. Their findings will be of interest to scholars of international relations, international political economy, regionalism, and international economics.

This book analyzes the monetary and exchange rate policies in Eastern European countries not covered by the current EU enlargement process. Specifically the book examines the major CIS countries: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and the Ukraine. (The new Eastern European EU members are also frequently referenced for comparison purposes.) Current and prospective monetary policy options are considered and the applicability of the EU monetary integration experience for the CIS countries and the prospects of a monetary re-unification around the Russian Federation are assessed. This is the first book to formally deal with many of these questions.

Global governance is a concern of not only global organisations but also of all individual states and of regional co-operation agreements among sovereign states. In 2001, the United Nations University has launched UNU-CRIS, a research and training programme on comparative regional integration to study the role of regional integration in global governance. The present first volume of the World Report on Regional Integration is a timely product of the research undertaken at UNU-CRIS. This new series of World Reports will certainly contribute to the discussion on the interaction between regional and global governance. And by bringing together insights from different parts of the UN system, in particular the five UN regional economic commissions and UNCTAD, this report will also contribute to a better understanding of the role of regions in the UN. (Hans van Ginkel, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Rector of UNU)The World Report on Regional Integration brings together a well-balanced mix of economic analysis, facts and political perspectives on the topic of regional integration. The most valuable and unique contribution of this volume is the enhanced clarity it brings to the complex picture of trade and investment integration, the entanglement of which points to the need for more effective regional governance as a building block of multilateral governance in this area. As the world’s most dynamic trading region, Asia and the Pacific is a key player in this process, and the UNESCAP secretariat, in its service to the region, will continue to accord high priority to this policy objective. (Kim Hak-Su, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of UNESCAP)

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.

This timely Handbook offers a detailed cross-policy assessment on the need, locale and impact of regional cooperation and integration, addressing how the principles of regional integration have affected multi-level governance and subsequent public policy. Individual chapters provide explanations of what regional cooperation means in a specific policy area, identify relevant theories, and present empirical evidence to support the arguments outlined. The Handbook of Regional Cooperation and Integration brings together a diverse range of expert contributors who deftly explore regional cooperation across a number of key policy areas, including migration, trade, the digital sphere, finance, security, democracy and higher education. Through a comprehensive analysis of the nature of and need for regional cooperation in today’s world, this Handbook argues for greater and more pressing discussions on regional policy, the value of integration and its resulting application in organisations. A crucial text for global governance, international relations and public policy academics and students, this is also an invigorating read for regional studies scholars. The Handbook ’s in-depth study of practical applications makes this suitable for public officials in the sector, as well as regional organisation and think tank staff.

In this ambitious two-volume open access collection of essays, a diverse group of scholars worldwide reflects on the past, present and future of the (comparative) regionalism research program. Volume I provides building blocks for regionalism studies in the coming years by indicating what a pluralistic theoretical and methodological toolbox to study regions could look like, how disciplinary boundaries can be bridged, and the relevance of comparative regionalism research. In consecutive sections, the chapter authors present their answers to the following guiding questions: What are the global origins of regionalism thinking? How relevant is mainstream theorizing (still)? And, finally, how could/should global regionalism look like? This collection of essays celebrates and highlights the research and scholarly undertakings of the United Nations University Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies (UNU-CRIS) on its 25th anniversary.

In this ambitious two-volume open access collection of essays, a diverse group of scholars from all over the world reflects on the past, present and future of the (comparative) regionalism research program. Volume II reflects on the continued relevance of regions in current world politics, on scenarios that can be visualized in terms of their future role, and on normative arguments that claim a role for regions as important governance levels. In consecutive sections, the chapter authors explore the role of regions in global governance, the role of interregional relations, and the (regional) role and impact of regional organizations. This collection of essays celebrates and highlights the research and scholarly undertakings of the United Nations University Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies (UNU-CRIS) on its 25th anniversary.

This volume brings together experts from different world regions. It presents various experiences with building indicator systems for monitoring the implementation of regional economic integration policies such as preferential trade areas, common markets or economic and monetary unions. The volume discusses both the technical and governance aspects of such systems, and best practices. The regional experiences that are covered include: the European Union, Eurasia, ASEAN, the East African Community (EAC), COMESA, CARICOM, the African-Caribbean-Pacific Group, and the Americas. In addition, various chapters discuss cross-cutting methodological challenges related to trade-related indicators.