Regionalism in the evolving world order

Abstract

Regionalism is a key element of the emerging world order and potentially a major channel for the provision of public goods. This chapter argues that there are different types of regional leadership: hegemonic, accommodationist, and communitarian. In a multiplex world, legitimacy achieved through a communitarian approach might be the most effective and durable approach to the provision of regional public goods (RPGs). The hegemonic approach to RPGs is often at cross-purposes with the nonrivalrous and nonexcludable criteria that defines the concept of public goods. The key for proponents of RPGs is to keep regionalism open, inclusive, and interactive with other regions and the global system at large. Leadership is not structural, but relies heavily on entrepreneurship and ideas/norms. Usually, accommodationist leadership is found within multiplex regionalism. Communitarian can be found in both integrationist and multiplex regionalisms, but they emerge and work in different ways. Communitarian leadership in the EU is heavily institutionalized and distinctly supranational.