Regionalism in Hard Times ─ Competitive and post-liberal trends in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas

The EU is not a super-state in the making but the most sophisticated regional organization. Against conventional wisdom, this book provides a contribution to the research on regional organizations while bridging the gap between EU studies and International relations. What was missing was firstly, a student-friendly presentation of the phenomenon of multidimensional cooperation among neighbouring states and societies, its history along three historical junctures, from the 20^th to the 21^st century, its relevant variations/diversities and similarities across five continents, its interplay with globalization and the changing post-hegemonic and post-Cold War international order.

Secondly, this books focuses in particular on the burning question of regionalism in hard times: that is on the question of whether the global financial crisis (2007-2016) and the multipolar power politics are currently provoking a fourth historical juncture beyond new regionalism and towards more competitive and political forms of instrumental regionalism and interregionalism, in Europe, East-Asia and the Americas. Addressing the political and strategic dimension, causes and effects of changing regionalist arrangements involves extremely relevant stakes regarding their current and potential impact on global governance, notably on trade and security challenges.

Mario Telo Emeritus President of the Institute for European Studies (IEE-ULB), Professor of International Relations, at ULB, as Jean Monnet Chair ‘ad personam’ and at LUISS Guido Carli-Rome and Member of The Royal Academy of Sciences.