Regionalism_(international_relations) | TriviaQuestions.online

⭐ In the context of trade barriers, regionalism (international relations) is considered a recent development that represents a shift away from…

Following WWII, there was a widespread move towards multilateralism and reduced trade barriers, but recent trends indicate a move towards regional agreements and a lessening of global trade openness.

⭐ Core Definition: Regionalism (international relations)

In international relations, regionalism is the expression of a common sense identity and purpose combined with the creation and implementation of institutions that express a particular identity and shape collective action within a geographical region. Regionalism is one of the three constituents of the international commercial system (along with multilateralism and unilateralism).

The first coherent regional initiatives began in the 1950s and 1960s, but they accomplished little, except in Western Europe with the establishment of the European Community. Some analysts call these initiatives "old regionalism". In the late 1980s, a new bout of regional integration (also called "new regionalism") began and continues still . A new wave of political initiatives prompting regional integration took place worldwide during the last two decades. Regional and bilateral trade deals have also mushroomed after the failure of the Doha round.

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Regionalism (international relations) in the context of Barriers to trade

Trade barriers are government-induced restrictions on international trade. Most trade barriers work on the same principle: the imposition of some sort of cost (money, time, bureaucracy, quota) on trade that alters the price or availability of the traded products. Barriers take the form of tariffs (which impose a financial burden on imports) and non-tariff barriers to trade (which uses other overt and covert means to restrict imports and occasionally exports). Trade barriers have been criticized for their negative impacts on consumers and their unequal applications to developing countries.

The use of trade barriers has shifted throughout history. Protectionist policies were commonplace in the mercantilist era, but a combination of industrialization and liberalization led to a shift towards free trade in the mid-to-late 19th century. The interwar period led to a regression back to protectionism, but post-WWII there was a near-universal commitment to multilateralism and the creation of international organizations that led to lower tariffs and decreased protectionism. While organizations like the World Trade Organization still provide an avenue for trade negotiations, in recent times there has been a shift away from trade openness and towards plurilateral agreements and regionalism.

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