Regional Integration Processes Research Articles

The role of Nigeria in the regional integration process in west Africa (1975 - 2023): Case study of Ecowas

This paper examines Nigeria's role in the regional integration process in West Africa through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from 1975 to 2023. Nigeria's significant economic, political, and military influence in the region has positioned it as a key player in ECOWAS. This study explores Nigeria's contributions, challenges, and the impact of its policies on regional integration. Through a comprehensive analysis of historical and contemporary data, this paper provides insights into Nigeria's leadership and its implications for regional stability and development. The findings from the study revealed Nigeria's pivotal role in the regional integration process in West Africa through ECOWAS. Nigeria's economic strength, political leadership, and security contributions have been instrumental in shaping the trajectory of ECOWAS. The country's efforts in promoting economic integration, mediating conflicts, and supporting peacekeeping missions have significantly contributed to regional stability and development. However, the analysis also highlights several challenges that have impacted Nigeria's role. Economic vulnerabilities, domestic political instability, and regional rivalries have occasionally hindered Nigeria's ability to lead effectively. Addressing these challenges is crucial for Nigeria to sustain its leadership role and for ECOWAS to achieve its integration objectives.

Comprehensive Regional Economic Partnership as a Mechanism of China's Integration into World Economic Processes

In this article, the author analyzes the impact of RCEP on the process of China's integration into world economic processes. The regional multilateral format of economic relations is a relatively new experience for China, therefore, the author considers China's participation in the RCEP as a possible beginning of a new stage in the implementation of not only regional, but also global ambitions of China. Recently, China has begun to integrate more actively into world economic processes, while putting forward its own initiatives for interaction in a multilateral order, for example, the Belt and Road Initiative. In addition, China is beginning to assert itself in already existing economic associations, for example, within the framework of the RCEP. However, in this case, China faces a number of problems, one of which is the presence of two competitive powers in the Asia-Pacific region: the US and Japan. Due to economic competition with China, both powers benefit from the policy of curbing the growth of China's influence in the region. In addition, today China has a very modest experience of participating in regional multilateral formats, largely due to the priority of the bilateral format of cooperation in China's foreign policy. The author comes to the conclusion that, claiming today to realize their global ambitions, the Chinese leadership is aware of the importance and necessity of the country's more active participation in regional integration processes.

Latin American regionalism and integration in the ongoing process of hegemonic transition

When observing the critical balance of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in the 21st century, caught between the withdrawal of the United States and the rise of China in the global and regional political and economic stage, one cannot but wonder on what course the processes of regional integration and regionalism will follow in Latin America and the Caribbean in this context. Our hypothesis is that regionalism and the processes of regional integration cannot be understood as “autonomist” processes—that is, as mere processes of facilitating consensus between different regional political actors—but must rather be perceived as a convergence with extraregional hegemonic powers, even amidst an absolute ideological diversity. Therefore, this work looks into the changes taking place within regionalism and the schemes of regional integration led by the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in the face of the ongoing anomalous and interstitial process of hegemonic transition from the United States to China that appears to be taking place; these are, undoubtedly, the extraregional references shaping LAC regionalism in the 21st century.

Integration in development: assessing socio-economic strategies of Kazakhstan and Central Asia

The study focuses on the specifics and peculiarities of the implementation of strategic plans in the sphere of economy and politics of Central Asian (CA) countries in response to the challenges of deglobalisation. The purpose of the article is to analyse and evaluate the socio-economic strategies of Kazakhstan and Central Asian countries in the context of their integration processes and development, and to determine their impact on regional stability and international cooperation. The study was conducted using such scientific methods as systematic literature review, meta-analysis, analytical synthesis, comparative and critical analysis. The scientific significance of the study lies in the systematisation and critical analysis of the strategies of socio-economic development of CA countries through the prism of their participation in regional integration processes, which allows to deepen the understanding of this multidimensional phenomenon. The practical significance of the work is expressed in the formation of proposals for the optimisation of integration processes, which is important for the creation of an effective economic environment in the region. The results of the study are of value for the academic community, politicians and experts dealing with regional integration and international economic relations in general. The recommendations proposed in the article can be used to develop more effective mechanisms of interstate interaction and the formation of sustainable economic policy.

The Impact of Urban Construction Land Expansion on Carbon Emissions from the Perspective of the Yangtze River Delta Integration, China

Regional integration plays a pivotal role in the socio-economic advancement of various global regions and is closely linked with the expansion of construction land. This expansion is a major contributor to urban carbon emissions. Utilizing a geographical regression discontinuity design (GRDD), this paper estimates the impact of urban construction land expansion on carbon emissions and explores the underlying mechanisms within the regional integration process of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), China. The findings reveal that urban construction land expansion significantly influences carbon emissions, displaying an inverted “U”-shaped pattern. Furthermore, this expansion affects carbon emissions through the transformation of industrial structures, shifts in consumption patterns, and enhancements in scientific and technological investments. Our findings span the performance of the Yangtze River Delta from its early development stages to a relatively mature phase. This paper also partially reveals how the Yangtze River Delta, with both megacities and large- to medium-sized cities, manages urban construction land expansion during the integration process and strives for low-carbon emissions reduction. These results can provide green growth recommendations that balance socio-economic development, low-carbon emissions, and social equity not only for other urban agglomerations in China but also for similar regions in other developing countries by altering construction land utilization patterns.

Research on urban agglomeration spatial network structure in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River based on real-time traffic accessibility scenario analysis

ABSTRACT Investigating the spatial network structure of urban agglomerations based on traffic accessibility has an important practical significance in accelerating the process of regional integration. Taking urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River (UAMRYR) as the case study, this study aims to examine the characteristics associated with the spatial network structure based on traffic accessibility and its changes under scenarios of different traffic accessibilities by adopting real-time traffic data, modified gravity model, and social network analysis (SNA). The main conclusions are as follows. Wuhan, Changsha, and Nanchang are the central cities in the spatial network; the spatial network structure of UAMRYR is imbalanced and in the agglomeration stage of regional economic development. With the development of traffic accessibility, resources first gather in the individual center cities and then spread to other cities, and the network tends toward equilibrium.

Revisiting the Regional Integration of ASEAN: A Comparison with the EU

This study provides a comparative analysis of regional integration processes in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) within the framework of Liberal Intergovernmentalism (LI). The formation of state preferences, the role of decision-making regimes, and the selective nature of integration in these two regional blocs are discussed. While both organizations have achieved substantial results in regional cooperation, they differ significantly in the depth and scope of their integration. ASEAN emphasizes the preservation of national sovereignty, resulting in limited progress, while the EU has achieved deep economic and political integration by delegating sovereign powers and empowering supranational institutions. The study also looks into the ongoing ASEAN in the changing global economic landscape, highlighting the increasing influence of economic interests, globalization, and the need for regional unity in the face of external challenges. In conclusion, while ASEAN and the EU have followed divergent paths of regional integration, they continue to evolve in response to internal and external dynamics.

Evolution of trade and productive integration in Latin America, 1995–2015: an input-output analysis

PurposeThe main goal of this paper is to examine the evolution of Latin American productive integration in terms of the regional value added incorporated in intra-regional exports of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. In addition, the study traces the trade and productive integration trajectories for each of these countries from 1995 to 2015.Design/methodology/approachBased on the use of OECD’s global ICIO input-output tables, this paper applies the methodological framework by Wang et al. (2018) for the analysis of trade flows at the bilateral level, which allows breaking down the value of gross exports of each sector-country, depending on the origin of the value added contained in exports, as well as their use.FindingsThe estimates show very low shares of value added from regional partners in the intra-regional exports of the countries studied. Conversely, the weight of the value added incorporated in these exports by countries outside the region has increased in tandem with China’s expanding involvement in Latin America. This development, along with the downward trend in domestic value added incorporated in exports, indicates a lack of a regional integration process of any depth.Originality/valueThis article addresses an economic problem of conventional importance from a global value chain perspective using a novel methodology based on the use of global input–output tables.

The Challenge of Cultural Diversity in Regional Integration: A Comparative Analysis of the EU and ASEAN

With the trend towards globalisation and increasing economic, political and cultural interconnectedness, the need for regional integration has become more pressing. However, cultural differences between member states, including differences in ethnicity, background and values, often pose an obstacle to regional integration. The European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are two very important regional organisations, although they both aim to promote regional integration and thereby develop regional economies and provide the region with international competitiveness. However, the different historical backgrounds, economic structures and political formations between the two regions have led to different models and objectives for regional integration, and thus the challenges of cultural diversity are similar as well as different in many ways. With the trend towards globalisation and the prominence of cultural diversity issues in the region, comparing the challenges and opportunities of cultural diversity in the regional integration process between the EU and ASEAN, both regions, helps to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the different models of regional integration and why policies related to cultural diversity need to be tailored, rather than copied, to the local context.

Azerbaijan in regional integration processes: Role and prospects of interaction with the EAEU

The study deals with theoretical and practical aspects of Azerbaijan’s participation in regional integration processes. The historical excursus of formation of international cooperation of Azerbaijan with the countries of CIS region and key economic partners in the world is considered. Azerbaijan’s economic interaction with the EAEU countries and possible potential of its development are analyzed. Based on the data of the State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, we have calculated the key indicators of Azerbaijan’s foreign trade with regional economic integration groupings and proposed their hierarchy. The study substantiates that there is a significant economic and socio-humanitarian potential of Azerbaijan’s attraction to the EAEU grouping. The possibilities of Azerbaijan’s integration interaction with the EAEU are objective in nature and are primarily related to its transport and geographical location, as well as to its production capabilities and the interaction of commodity markets. So far, the integration potential has not been fully realized, but there is a clear trend towards the rapprochement of Azerbaijan with the EAEU countries. Acceleration and deepening of the use of integration potential will depend on many factors, but first of all on geopolitical and socio-economic factors. The most realistic option for Azerbaijan’s integration into the EAEU grouping is the scenario of granting the country the status of an associate member followed by a deeper degree of economic integration.

On the tailor-made water governance mechanism for Taiwan's semiconductor industry

This study explores a new governance mechanism aimed at regional integration and explains how this mechanism can achieve optimal governance of water resources through the division of labour in politics and the economy. This study adopts political economic geography as the research approach. The data used in the analysis were obtained from official documents, interviews and field investigations, and its authenticity was interactively checked via triangulation. The results show that ‘spatial shifts’ were the driving force behind water redistribution. The division of labour between politics and the economy eliminates obstacles to water distribution through the mutual adjustment and division of underground rhizomes; ‘creative destruction’ and ‘destructive creation’ are alternately used to achieve dialectical progress. This study concludes that in this case, the process of regional integration simultaneously generates circular mechanisms in which political power and economic productivity are consolidated.

Assessing the trade–connectivity linkages in South Asia in post-pandemic period: an empirical investigation

The study unravels the relationship between trade and connectivity and presents a narrative to re-energise the South Asian regional economic integration in the post-pandemic period. In addition, the study also examines the effect on conflicts and institutional factors in South Asian trade. The study uses the bilateral gravity analysis in 2SLS (Two-Stage Least Squares) framework to address the endogeneity issues. The study finds that South Asia may gain enormously if they reduce the conflicts across the border and secure improvement in both hard and soft infrastructure. Given that the trade is a dynamic concept, connectivity disruption costs cause havoc to the region, which then promotes dis-integration. Facilitating business beyond the border in post-pandemic requires an enhanced trade facilitation and connectivity in the region. The renewed and shared agenda of the South Asian regional cooperation in post-pandemic should, therefore, aim to reduce both intra- and inter- regional trade facilitation gaps as well as to expand the connectivity. The process of South Asian regional integration has to contribute to narrowing the gaps by providing resources for the development of trade infrastructure. Therefore, South Asia has to enhance its own connectivity and trade facilitation arrangement to take forward the agenda of South Asian integration.

Small State Diplomacy in Action: The Real Origins of TPP

The TPP Agreement – now CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement) – is, by any measure, a central part of the emerging global trade policy framework. To the author's surprise, it survived the decision of the United States to withdraw after USTR Mike Froman had signed the Agreement in Auckland 2015 on behalf of the US. Today, it incorporates 12 economies including leading G20 economies such as Japan, Mexico, Canada, Australia, and the UK, its most recent entrant. Six other economies, including most importantly, China, the world's second largest economy, are now applying for membership. What began between Singapore and New Zealand – a conscious strategic decision on their part to try to incentivize precisely this process of Asia-Pacific regional integration in 1999 – is now clearly a major part of the global geopolitical chessboard.

Exploring the competitiveness of Central Asian economies: a comparative analysis

Relevance. In Central Asia, growing economic and infrastructural challenges require urgent solutions and a shift from resource-dependent economies. Although each Central Asian country is following its own independent path, regional integration processes are crucial for enhancing competitiveness at both individual and regional levels. Research Objective. The study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of the competitiveness of Central Asian economies, identifying both their weaknesses and opportunities for sustainable development in the region. Data and Methods. The study relies on both secondary qualitative and quantitative data, drawing on international research on competitiveness and methodological provisions developed by the World Economic Forum. Identical indicators from the World Bank database are analyzed for an indirect assessment of the global competitiveness of Central Asian economies. Results. The study's findings reveal varying levels of competitiveness among the economies in question. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, in particular, have shown progress in this sphere due to the availability of natural resources, economic reforms, investments in infrastructure, and the development of human capital. Conclusions. In order to improve the quality of life for their citizens, Central Asian countries need to enhance their competitiveness, which can be accomplished by implementing measures such as diversifying economies, strengthening institutions, and attracting investment in innovative projects.

Some Trends in the Development of Regional Integration Processes in Southeast Asia in the 2020s.

This study discusses the long-term impact of the newly created institutions of the Indo-Pacific region (IPR) on the main regional integration institution of Southeast Asia (SEA), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and assesses the consequences of the implementation of the IPR concept by ASEAN countries.Aim . Determine the main trends in the development of regional integration processes in Southeast Asia in the 2020s. in the context of the Indo-Pacific process.Tasks. Determine the role of SEA countries in the Indo-Pacific process; identify the nature of the influence of AUKUS on the development trends of the regional security architecture of SEA; establish the impact of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) on the sustainable economic development of SEA countries.Methods. The methodological basis of this study is based on general scientific methods (system analysis, forecasting), political science methods, approaches to the analysis of regional security complexes existing in international relations studies (B. Buzan [3], O. Waver [5], J. De Wilde [4], A. Acharya [2]) and to the analysis of regional economic integration and its stages (J. Pelkmans [10]).Results . The inclusion of ASEAN countries in the Indo-Pacific process initiated by the United States of America (USA) and its allies in the future in 2030 leadsto 1) an increase in military spending, which may indicate a reduction in the level of trust in the region, 2) a reduction in the rate of convergence of the economies of Southeast Asian countries, which may indicate a growing imbalance in the level of development of ASEAN countries.Conclusions . The implementation of the IPR concept by ASEAN countries leads to the erosion of the “ASEAN-centricity” of regional institutions in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as to the projected reduction in the effectiveness of ASEAN in achieving the goals of a regional integration institution, namely: 1) an increase in military spending in the countries of the Asia-Pacific region in the 2020s, including in the ASEAN countries, indicating about the declining level of trust in relations with the PRC, leading to a decrease in the effectiveness of ASEAN diplomatic mechanisms to resolve existing disputes with China over the South China Sea; 2) the pace of catching-up development of poor Southeast Asian countries in the 2020s. are reduced, the implementation of IPEF will only be able to ensure some uneven economic growth in the most developed countries of Southeast Asia, it is becoming increasingly difficult for poor countries to catch up with the more developed countries of Southeast Asia in their level of economic development, and ASEAN’s goal of ensuring equitable economic development is becoming less achievable.

Dynamics of Regional Integration in Central Asia: A Case Study of Belt and Road Initiative

In today’s globalized world, it has become a necessary norm to be part of a regional integration process for neighbouring countries in any region of the world. Central Asia is a good example to understand with its rich past and unexplored perspective. This phenomenon can be better understood by examining the quest of Central Asian republics (CARs) for regional integration and the role of BRI in this process. ‎For that, this paper explores the historical dynamics and drivers of regional integration in Central Asia with a special focus on the role of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which aims to improve regional infrastructure, commerce, and investment, has the potential to redefine the direction of regional integration in Central Asia in the face of shifting global power dynamics. Furthermore, Liberal Intergovernmental theory helps explain the Central Asian Republics’ core actions and the impact of their domestic policies providing a details view of what drives regional integration in Central Asia. The study explores the historical dynamics and drivers of regional integration in Central Asia, focusing on the role of the BRI in reshaping these dynamics at domestic and external levels, using qualitative and thematic analysis of secondary sources.

Europe in the crisis world: pressing issues, unobvious solutions

The article analyses the main trends in the development of modern Europe in the context of the world crisis and the profound transformation of international relations based on the collective monograph “Europe in a Crisis World” edited by Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Al.A. Gromyko. A wide range of problems is considered, including Europe's place in the emerging new balance of power in the world and the strengthening of decentralisation and regional integration processes, the strengths and weaknesses of the European strategy to counter the coronavirus pandemic, the new configuration that has emerged in Europe due to Britain's withdrawal from the EU and the development of integration processes in the post-Soviet space. A particular emphasis is given to the complexity and contradictory processes in Europe's economic and social spheres, calling into question the likelihood of deepening integration within the EU. The problems of European security and the prospects of relations between Russia and the West, including European associations and states, are considered separately.

Opting out of the ‘near abroad’ and moving towards eurointegration: A postfunctionalist analysis of Ukraine’s regional integration dynamics in the early 2010s

This article examines the utility of a revised postfunctionalist theory in explaining regional (dis)integration dynamics. The case study employed to test the theoretical framework is based on Ukraine’s regional integration processes with respect to Eurasian and European regional organizations in the early 2010s. The principal research question posed is: what factors contributed to Ukraine’s decision to opt out of deeper integration with Eurasia in the early 2010s and pursue integration with the European Union insead, and how can this case study move the postfunctionalist theory forward? Three assumptions proposed by postfunctionalism, enriched with insights from social constructivism, were applied to the (dis)integration processes: salience, politicization, and collective identity. The analysis suggests that the revised postfunctionalist framework is indeed instrumental in explaining both integration and disintegration, providing insights into the role of collective identity mobilization once public discussion reaches a critical juncture in the politicization process.

Migration, Informality, and Unequal Exchange in the Context of the Mexico–US Regional Integration Process

This paper analyzes the complex relationship between migration and informality in the context of the Mexico–US asymmetric and subordinated regional integration process under neoliberalism. It argues that one of the main drivers of contemporary Mexican migration is the uneven distribution of the informal sector—and more precisely, the industrial reserve army of labor—among both countries. In this regard, Mexico operates as a strategic zone of reserve and social reproduction of workforce to satisfy the growing labor demand in the United States through migration. This reveals that the reproduction of the reserve labor army is essentially transnational in nature. The main link between migration and informality from below is through remittances: they serve as a fundamental component for family reproduction and for the procreation of a transnational core labor force that exerts pressure on wages on both sides of the border. Within the framework of the dynamics of informality from above, a growing flow of skilled and highly skilled Mexican migration to the United States has been unleashed, accompanied by aggressive government policies to attract talent in synchronization with the strengthening of innovation and knowledge-intensive activities in that country. We conclude that a critical aspect of informality from above, which reinforces informality from below, is the dismantling and disarticulation of Mexico’s productive apparatus in order to rearticulate it to the United States economy through the installation of export-oriented platforms that operate under an enclave logic, with imported components and under tax exemption regimes.

Модель стратегического управления субъектами Уральского федерального округа РФ в контексте межрегиональной интеграции

The authors of the article conducted a study of trends in regional integration in the Russian Federation in the context of transformation processes and globalization changes in the world. The subject of the work is the trends in the regionalization of integration processes in the Russian Federation, taking into account the transformational external environment. In the context of the topic, the authors tried to show current trends in the interregional integration agenda using the example of the Ural Federal District of the Russian Federation in the context of strategic management of regional integration processes. The article proposes a methodological approach to the strategic management of socio-economic development of regions. The applicable research methods in the article were the method of systematization and generalization, as well as the method of content analysis. The proposed methodological approach to the strategic management of regional integration of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation allows us to develop an effective system of methods for making management decisions. Investigating the category of integration, the authors noted that it is closely related to the category of space, and also concluded that the more intense and varied the interaction between agents belonging to different territorial units, the higher the degree of integration. The socio-economic consequences of competition between the constituent entities of the Russian Federation for resources are of particular interest today in light of the extreme differentiation of regions and the growing gap between them. The study identified industries in the constituent entities of the Ural Federal District where regional integration is most actively observed. The authors of the article also found that interaction between regions is carried out through the transfer of functions in the field of housing policy, tourism, services and retail trade. The article identifies the main trends in regional integration in the areas of various types of interregional flows: imports and exports, migration, information, investments, and also evaluates the effects of regional integration.