Regionalism is a broader concept that encompasses interdependence or connecting of geographies of different states , that have common political, economical and defense interests. the sole notion or underlying for states to follow a regional strategy in their conduct of foreign and defense policy is to acheive their economic development through collective use of region's resources either military or political ones .
prior to cold war, this concept was excessively used just to defend colonial interests and as well as to strengthen military positions or to build military alliances , just to maintain their balance of power, but after the second world war, this strategy of regional cooperation has shifted from a purely a defense or military one to a strategy involving cooperation in politics and economics. But the shadow of a defense led regional approach is still visible in the form of NATO and Warsaw pact of the east , with the then Soviet union. with emergence of new states after decolonization, there emerged a pseudo war against the west or against the developed countries by the developing countries to exert their influence in multilateral organisations such as U.N and its constituent bodies like the WTO and IMF . which ultimately culminated into regional cooperation between states , where in supporting each other politically in the realm of international law and restraining the emergence of unilateralism by super powers have been dominant features of pre and post cold war politics.
The underlying notion behind regionalism is that, it minimizes the tensions in the form of conflicts with in a region, it adjusts people of similar cultures to think for welfare towards their own people , cooperation in international politics through vote blocks in U.N or WTO , historically speaking, the approach of regional cooperation has been a fairly successful story in much of the western hemisphere, this can be attributed to the developed institutions that govern these regions (particularly the U.S ) , where institutional development in the form of stable governments, democracy and rule of law have played a considerable role in alligning the states of the west towards regional cooperation. on the other hand dictatorship led governments tried equally well , but never been able to successfully implement regional cooperation to build their economies or liberalise their markets .
Organisations such as NATO (North Atlantic treaty organisation), CENTO (Central treaty organisation), LAFTA (latin American free trade agreement), NAFTA (North American free trade Agreement) ASEAN (Association of south east asian nations ), E.U (European union ) the common wealth . represent regional agreements that cater to functional areas , which are subject specific involving regional polictics, economic developement and some of them are purely defense or military led ones like the NATO which concentrates only on strategic area of defense led approach. Unfortunately , the concept of regional cooperation is late to come by in South Asia or perhaps not successful enough to be fruitful in the commity of nations, this can be attributed to either too diverse ethinic or sub nationalistic tendencies with in South Asia or deep suspicion by India's neighbors against india and vice verca . Regional conflict between India and pakistan has always follwed as a ghost in all the meetings of SAARC. South Asia represents both an opportunity as well as a challange to the very meaning of regional cooperation.
prior to cold war, this concept was excessively used just to defend colonial interests and as well as to strengthen military positions or to build military alliances , just to maintain their balance of power, but after the second world war, this strategy of regional cooperation has shifted from a purely a defense or military one to a strategy involving cooperation in politics and economics. But the shadow of a defense led regional approach is still visible in the form of NATO and Warsaw pact of the east , with the then Soviet union. with emergence of new states after decolonization, there emerged a pseudo war against the west or against the developed countries by the developing countries to exert their influence in multilateral organisations such as U.N and its constituent bodies like the WTO and IMF . which ultimately culminated into regional cooperation between states , where in supporting each other politically in the realm of international law and restraining the emergence of unilateralism by super powers have been dominant features of pre and post cold war politics.
The underlying notion behind regionalism is that, it minimizes the tensions in the form of conflicts with in a region, it adjusts people of similar cultures to think for welfare towards their own people , cooperation in international politics through vote blocks in U.N or WTO , historically speaking, the approach of regional cooperation has been a fairly successful story in much of the western hemisphere, this can be attributed to the developed institutions that govern these regions (particularly the U.S ) , where institutional development in the form of stable governments, democracy and rule of law have played a considerable role in alligning the states of the west towards regional cooperation. on the other hand dictatorship led governments tried equally well , but never been able to successfully implement regional cooperation to build their economies or liberalise their markets .
Organisations such as NATO (North Atlantic treaty organisation), CENTO (Central treaty organisation), LAFTA (latin American free trade agreement), NAFTA (North American free trade Agreement) ASEAN (Association of south east asian nations ), E.U (European union ) the common wealth . represent regional agreements that cater to functional areas , which are subject specific involving regional polictics, economic developement and some of them are purely defense or military led ones like the NATO which concentrates only on strategic area of defense led approach. Unfortunately , the concept of regional cooperation is late to come by in South Asia or perhaps not successful enough to be fruitful in the commity of nations, this can be attributed to either too diverse ethinic or sub nationalistic tendencies with in South Asia or deep suspicion by India's neighbors against india and vice verca . Regional conflict between India and pakistan has always follwed as a ghost in all the meetings of SAARC. South Asia represents both an opportunity as well as a challange to the very meaning of regional cooperation.
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