Regional integration
Regional integration refers to a process where neighboring states agree to intensify their cooperation through common rules and common institutions. While the European integration process with the European Union (EU) is by far the most extensive example of regional integration, similar processes has been launched both in Africa (African Union), Asia (ASEAN).
Regional integration can be organized either via supranational institutional structures or through intergovernmentaldecision-making, or a combination of both.
Regional integration often starts with a removal of barriers to free trade in the region, increasing the free movement of people, labour, goods, and capital across national borders, reducing the possibility of regional armed conflict and adopting cohesive regional stances on policy issues, such as the environment, climate change and migration.
Regional integration in Europe is by far the most extensive integration process. It started out as a peace project after the end of the second world war (in the 1950s) and was consolidated with the Treaty on the European Union (the Maastricht Treaty), which came into force in November 1993 and established the European Union. Since then it has continued to develop and to adapt to a changing geopolitical and intra-European context.
Examples of NUPI's research areas on regional integration includes:
- The European Union (the EU) and EEA
- The African Union
- Nordic cooperation
- Regional integration in Asia and Eurasia (ASEAN and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU))
News about regional integration
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What previous crises tell us about the likely impact of Covid-19 on the EU
13 May 2020- Jarle Trondal
- Aksemi Newsome
The Covid-19 crisis and its wide-ranging consequences illustrate the importance of understanding how the EU responds to crises. Drawing on a forthcoming book, Marianne Riddervold (NUPI), Jarle Trondal (University of Agder and ARENA) and Akasemi Newsome (UC Berkeley) discuss...
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Common fears, common opportunities?
5 Mar 2020How do Czechia and Norway assess and respond to a changing international political context?
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What does China really want in the Middle East?
16 Dec 2019In a recent article, NUPI research fellow Henrik S. Hiim and Stig Stenslie aim to find an answer.
Publications about regional integration
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Publication
: Academic article
Spaces and Institutional Logics in Post-Conflict Settings of Mitrovica
2020Spaces structure interactions between communities in post-conflict settings. They are governed by particular institutional logics, which can foster boundary building and boundary transgression. This article proposes an extended version of the concept of ‘everyday peace’ including a focus not only on... -
Publication
: Report
Handelen med medisinske varer og Covid-19
2020The Covid-19 pandemy has exposed vulnerability for pharmaceuticals and medical goods. Does globalisation create more or less vulnerability? - The majority of countries import all their drugs and only eighteen countries are net exporters. - Exports are dominated by Western Europa, with China and India... -
Publication
: Academic article
Russia in world trade: Between globalism and regionalism
The article examines Russia’s participation in world trade and trade policy, using trade data for 1996–2017 and simulations of a numerical world trade model where Russia is divided into domestic regions. Since the mid-1990s, Russia’s foreign trade has grown much faster than the world average. This was...
Research projects about regional integration
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Research project
Common Fear Factors in Foreign Policy (COMFEAR)
2019 - 2020 (Ongoing)COMFEAR aims to identify key issues of common concern and shared threats as perceived by publics and policymakers in Czechia and Norway.
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Research project
EU Integration and Differentiation for Effectiveness and Accountability (EUIDEA)
2019 - 2021 (Ongoing)EUIDEA is a H2020 project, which aims to break new ground on differentiated integration in terms of conceptual approach, policies and networks.
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Foto: Etienne Ansotte/EC Audiovisual Sevice
Research project
Balancing between integration and autonomy. Understanding the drivers and mechanisms of EU's foreign, security and defense policy (EUFLEX)
2019 - 2021 (Ongoing)The project will investigate the ongoing process towards differentiated integration in European foreign, security and defence policy.