Some Vital Concepts of regional
cooperation There is no denying the fact that a few
decades ago; the conception of
regional
cooperation came as a signal in the
different parts of the world signifying to establish a relationship among some
developing countries in the world. Several regional organisations were created
in different region. After the creation of the European community in 1958,
regional cooperation proliferated in East Asia, Africa and Latin America .Although
there was towering optimism amongst the embryonic countries but
regionalism did
not boom outside Europe. Notwithstanding that, regionalism again
being viewed as a way of solution of their economic problems. In present time, the
concept of regional cooperation is different than that of thirty years ago. Before
amplification the main differences it is necessary to bring up a few words
about the causes of the emergence of new regionalism. During the cold war, although
regionalism was an international agenda but its scope was limited. Because all
regional arrangements at that time was subordinate to bipolarism. End of cold
war or collapse of old bipolarism gave regionalism a new momentum
In
new circumstances, regional organisations are regarded as an important helping
hand of the United Nations. For regional problem solving, UN growing dependence
on regional organisation gave regionalism a new force. For many developing
countries economic marginalization after the end of bloc politics became a
major threat. For becoming self reliant developing countries gave more emphasis
on regional cooperation. The success of the European Community and their
different new type of plans positive others to rethink their policies towards
economic regional cooperation Signing of North American Free Trade Agreement predisposed
some countries to reassess the possible gain from regional cooperation. The
developing countries are also creating free trade area and trying to include
developed partner into their free trade arrangements as a tentative flow.
In
the 60s United States was the defender of multilateralism and opponent
of regionalism. Now it has become an active partner of regional cooperation. At
that time regionalism was viewed as a threat to multilateralism. On the other
hand now it has become the helping hand of multilateralism. The old regional
cooperation was homogeneous partners based. For example regional cooperation
was South-South and North-North based. Now North-South regional cooperation is
visible and it is a new dimension. United States, Canada and Mexico has created largest trading bloc in the
world economy. This North American Free Trade Agreement was signed in 1992. Here
Mexico is Southern country. Greater diversity
among the partners is new dimension in regional cooperation which was not
present in old regional cooperation. A European Union relation with East
European countries and with Turky is also new. Another dimension is inclusion
of Vietnam in the ASEAN, which is a communist country.
The
treaty provisions are also new in the present regional cooperation. In NAFTA
treaty the provision of rules of business (new type of protectionism), dispute
settlement, intellectual property rights and environmental protection and
sustainable development clauses are new. Old regional cooperation arrangement
are often formed in response to common external threat or based on political
factor. Political ideology played prominent role for the creation of most of
those regional cooperation. On the other hand new regional cooperation is a
multi dimensional, trade and economic issues are prominent here. For example
communist threat was the important reason for the creation of ASEAN. Now the
policy of this regional organisation has changed. Trade and economic aspects
gaining priority in their relations. The Soviet threat played important role in
the formation of European Community. The new regional cooperation is
spontaneous which is market and consumer driven. On the other hand the old type
of regional cooperation was imposed from bureaucracy driven and was therefore
more restricted. The free trade concept is an important issue in comparison to
old regional cooperation arrangement. For example beyond simple trade
liberalization of trade in services, liberalization in movement of capital and
labour, investment, technical and regulatory standards, customs formalities
etc. are new. These policies are now followed by most of the regional organizations.
In the old regionalism the nation- state
was the main actor of regional cooperation. In the European Union much of the
state’s responsibilities are not being done by this regional body. The EU is
therefore now focusing a common monetary policy, common social policy and
common foreign and security policies. Intra-regional South- South trade has
increased much in the new regional cooperation than under the old regional one.
In the old regional cooperation this volume of trade was much lower than the
present trade volume. In view of the above it is evident that the changes in
the concept of regional cooperation have based to a high degree on the changes
in international politics. As we know that after Second World War power
politics dominated the international system. For that reason regional
cooperation arrangements were mostly political and security based. After the
cold war, although political and security issue remains there as always,
economic and trade aspects have become the main focus in the new cooperation.