Regionalism Among Developing Countries

In the last decade, regionalism appears to have emerged as a major new force in the world. This book puts it in its historical context. Regions have emerged before; few are old because they either evolve into federal systems or break up. The current regions are less dominant than their critics fear, but imply more integration than a simple view that they are about liberalizing trade. All go beyond trade to other linkages, and all enduring ones have political as well as economic agendas.

Analyzes why countries form regional economic groups, why some endure and others fail; it discusses 12 developing country regions in detail, their trade, investment, institutions, and political commitment.

Sheila Page is Research Fellow at the Overseas Development Institute.