The course explores the ways in which institutionalised regional economic integration has developed in a variety of regions across the world. It will discuss the rationales for integration in the different regional experiences and appraise how the process has shaped the political, social and economic development of member states as well as their regional/continental environments.

The timetable for this course will be made available to students at the beginning of the academic year. There is no guarantee that this course will run in any given year. For further information, please check the Politics and International Relations Moodle page or contact the subject directly.

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1. a 1000-word essay critically reviewing the literature with regard to at least two of the theories on regional economic integration explored in the first part of the course and considering in particular their applicability in the current context of globalisation (25%)

2. a 3000-word essay answering one the proposed essay questions with particular attention to comparing at least two cases of regional integration (75%).

This course aims to introduce students to institutionalised regional economic integration and to its variants across the world, including the rationales for their foundation and development, their goals, institutional settings and policy scope, and the impact they have on the political, social and economic order of member states and their regional environment alike. The course also aims at leading students to appraise regional economic organisations' interaction with global economic governance and processes. Overall, the course will provide students with a framework for thinking critically and pragmatically about the benefits and limitations of institutionalised regional economic integration for both their member states and the world order.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Apply relevant concept and theories to question the rationales behind regional economic integration

■ Analyse the historical evolution of institutionalised regional economic integration in the various continents and assess its relationship with international processes such as decolonisation and globalization

■ Explain the regional policy-making process and demonstrate critical awareness of the role played by supranational institutions, member states and societal actors (e.g.: business, transnational networks) therein

■ Compare the various regional organisations and advance reasoned, factually supported and critically aware arguments with regard to the existence of common features and local specificities

■ Evaluate the impact of regional organisations on the political, economic and social development of their member states and populations as well as on their neighbouring area

■ Appraise the role of regional organizations in shaping international economic regulations and governance and critically examine current and potential challenges they face.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.