Regional Security and Regional Conflict

Abstract

This chapter raises the following main points: • Regions are groupings of states that share either geographic proximity or have sufficient cultural/historic ties that bind them together. • Regionalization occurs within a region as interdependence is developed among the regional states. • The development of regionalism is dependent on the support of the regional great power(s), the extent of reciprocity that exists in the relations of the states in the region, and the level of strategic reassurance that exists among these states. • Regionalization is not a lineal process, that is, it can increase or decrease. • The pace of regionalism is different in each region but a basic pattern exists where economic integration precedes political and security integration. • Regional threats to security can be divided into four categories. The first two comprise traditional military threats such as balance of power contests between regional powers and ‘grass fire’ conflicts between smaller powers or over more localized issues. The third category includes, for example, intra-state conflicts for ethnic, religious, nationalist or ideological, issues. Finally, transnational threats such as environmental degradation or resource scarcity can also cause regional instability and conflict.