Comparative Regionalism Social Sciences & International Politics Program Spring 2023 Semester - French Alps: Grenoble

Regional integration has become an important feature of world politics since the mid-1980s and the explosion of various forms of regional organisations on a global scale. While the European Union appears to be one of the most integrated form of organization, regional integration is a worldwide phenomenon with many examples in Africa (ECOWAS, SADC), Asia (ASEAN, SAARC, Shangaï Cooperation Organization) and Latin America (MERCOSUR, Pacific Alliance, CARICOM). The aim of this course is to understand the dynamics of regionalization, the rise of regions but also their vulnerability or disintegration,by comparing the irinstitutional and normative features (concentration of powers, delegation of competences, sources of law, enforcement mechanisms, citizens representation and participation...),and their embeddedness in global politics.We will try to collectively answer the following questions: How to compare the varieties of regionalism across time and space? How theories of integration and regional cooperation explain the emergence of regions, their development and outcomes? Why are some regional organisations more integrated than others? Is regionalization determined by legal dynamics or is it only a matter of power politics? Does overlapping regionalism lead to cooperative or a competing regionalism? What are the linkages between regional governance and global governance? To what extent do regions contribute to the stability of the international system?

Sciences Po Grenoble - UGA awards credits based on the ECTS system. Contact hours listed under a course description may vary due to the combination of lecture-based and independent work required for each course. CEA CAPA's recommended credits are based on the ECTS credits assigned by Sciences Po Grenoble - UGA (2 ECTS credits equals 1 U.S. credit therefore, 5 ECTS credits is equivalent to 2.5 U.S. credits).