REGIONALISM AND THE EU
31st January 2020, UK became the first and only country to leave the EU.
2016 referendum. 51% leave 48% remain.
European Union: a collection of 27 European nation-states with both intergovernmental and
supranational institutions designed to promote cooperation around its shared values.
Regionalism: a group of countries in a given geographic region – known as a bloc.
Federalism: centralised federal body that exercises power on behalf of the regional block.
(Brussels is the Washington D.C of the EU compared to America)
UK felt it was a part of the EU's federalism. "Take back control" campaign
Intergovernmentalism: governments works together to come up with mutually beneficial agreements
while maintaining sovereignty.
Supranationalism: certain institutions take decisions above domestic governments. Diminishing the
sovereignty of those states.
EU has had most impact of:
• Peace and security
• Economic and monetary union
• Political union
• Human rights (ECtHR and ECHR are separate)
• Police and judicial cooperation
• Common foreign and security policy
Regionalism
Economic Regionalism: states that have shared economic aims and, therefore, incentives to cooperate
may form a regional block, often based around trade deals.
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (UMSCA)
Agreed in 1994
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
Agreed in 2016
, Political Regionalism: focus on tackling collective problems that two or more states within a particular
region are faced with. Requires deeper form of integration. Will generally gain an advantage from
pooling sovereignty.
European Union
Arab League: founded in 1945 and comprises 22 members. It conducts business through summits in
which it aims to agree common positions on any policy area of shared interest
Security Regionalism: states make an alliance to better strengthen their regional borders. Often involves
militaristic alliances or agreement of reaction.
NATO is the principal organisation responsible for the territorial defence of Europe.
The European Union straddles each form of regionalism: Economic, Political, and Security.
There are three main regionalism theories in relation to sovereignty:
1. Federalism: regionalism can and should be seen as a federal-style system with a central authority.
There will be a significant impact on sovereignty as it is pooled
2. Functionalism: regional blocs develop to fulfil specific functions only, rather than as broader entities.
There will be more limited impact on sovereignty.
3. Neofunctionalism: falls somewhere between the two – while there may be initial functions for the
regional bloc, these may well 'spill over' into other areas. Mixed impact on sovereignty, may 'spill
over' in functions.
USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement):
• A free trade agreement (economic regionalism)
• Replaced NAFTA 2020
Focus on reducing tariffs in: textiles, agriculture, automobiles and aims to increase trade, integrate
Mexico into North American economy, and promoting manufacturing and productivity.
Key changes from NAFTA to USMCA
• More protectionism in car industry, 75% of cars must be made in North America.
• Changes to: steel and aluminium tariffs, and Canadian dairy access
• New rules: digital trade + intellectual property, workers must earn at least $16/hour for some
production.
• More environmental and labour regulations.
31st January 2020, UK became the first and only country to leave the EU.
2016 referendum. 51% leave 48% remain.
European Union: a collection of 27 European nation-states with both intergovernmental and
supranational institutions designed to promote cooperation around its shared values.
Regionalism: a group of countries in a given geographic region – known as a bloc.
Federalism: centralised federal body that exercises power on behalf of the regional block.
(Brussels is the Washington D.C of the EU compared to America)
UK felt it was a part of the EU's federalism. "Take back control" campaign
Intergovernmentalism: governments works together to come up with mutually beneficial agreements
while maintaining sovereignty.
Supranationalism: certain institutions take decisions above domestic governments. Diminishing the
sovereignty of those states.
EU has had most impact of:
• Peace and security
• Economic and monetary union
• Political union
• Human rights (ECtHR and ECHR are separate)
• Police and judicial cooperation
• Common foreign and security policy
Regionalism
Economic Regionalism: states that have shared economic aims and, therefore, incentives to cooperate
may form a regional block, often based around trade deals.
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (UMSCA)
Agreed in 1994
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
Agreed in 2016
, Political Regionalism: focus on tackling collective problems that two or more states within a particular
region are faced with. Requires deeper form of integration. Will generally gain an advantage from
pooling sovereignty.
European Union
Arab League: founded in 1945 and comprises 22 members. It conducts business through summits in
which it aims to agree common positions on any policy area of shared interest
Security Regionalism: states make an alliance to better strengthen their regional borders. Often involves
militaristic alliances or agreement of reaction.
NATO is the principal organisation responsible for the territorial defence of Europe.
The European Union straddles each form of regionalism: Economic, Political, and Security.
There are three main regionalism theories in relation to sovereignty:
1. Federalism: regionalism can and should be seen as a federal-style system with a central authority.
There will be a significant impact on sovereignty as it is pooled
2. Functionalism: regional blocs develop to fulfil specific functions only, rather than as broader entities.
There will be more limited impact on sovereignty.
3. Neofunctionalism: falls somewhere between the two – while there may be initial functions for the
regional bloc, these may well 'spill over' into other areas. Mixed impact on sovereignty, may 'spill
over' in functions.
USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement):
• A free trade agreement (economic regionalism)
• Replaced NAFTA 2020
Focus on reducing tariffs in: textiles, agriculture, automobiles and aims to increase trade, integrate
Mexico into North American economy, and promoting manufacturing and productivity.
Key changes from NAFTA to USMCA
• More protectionism in car industry, 75% of cars must be made in North America.
• Changes to: steel and aluminium tariffs, and Canadian dairy access
• New rules: digital trade + intellectual property, workers must earn at least $16/hour for some
production.
• More environmental and labour regulations.
