Laboratory:non-Western Regionalisms. Decentring International Relations in Theory and in Practice
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
This workshop introduces students to the study of regional integration beyond the West from an International Relations theory perspective. It offers a theoretically informed examination of the supranational processes that characterise the development of regional communities beyond the West, with a focus on Asia. These range from the governance of polities and economies to the management of strategic infrastructure to the conduct of commercial and diplomatic business around the world. The module focuses on the institutional development and external impact of regional organisations, such as the Association of South East Asian Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the BRICS and examines how they interact to shape the character of contemporary world politics. Questions of regional integration, comparative regionalism and interregionalism will feature strongly in the module.
Expected learning outcomes
1) Knowledge and understanding: students will acquire understanding of the issues pertaining to regionalism beyond the West and gain a firm grasp of the concepts, terminology and theoretical frameworks used in International Relations theory for the study of comparative regionalism. 2) Intellectual skills: students will acquire the ability to think critically about the subject matter and identify and address key problems relevant to it. They will gain awareness of differing interpretations of the material and demonstrate ability to make coherent and independent arguments. 3) Transferable skills: students will develop their information gathering, analytical and writing skills, and will learn how to familiarise themselves with a complex new topic.
Lesson period: First trimester
Assessment methods: Giudizio di approvazione
Assessment result: superato/non superato
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First trimester
Course syllabus
The workshop consists of ten lessons. In the first eight lessons, Prof. Emilian Kavalski (Visiting Professor from the Jagiellonian University in Krakow) will address theories on and empirical cases of non-Western regionalism. In the last two lessons, Prof. Simone Dossi will coordinate a collective research exercise leading to presentations and a final discussion.
1. 23/09: From Globalization to the Rise of Regionalism?
2. 4/09: Explaining and Understanding Regionalism: What Can Theory Tell Us?
3. 25/09: The Prototype (Western) Region? The European Union
4. 26/09: Regionalism beyond the West: How can it be?
5. 30/09: ASEAN: The Surprising (non-Western) Region?
6. 01/10: When China Rules the World? The Shanghai Cooperation Organization
7. 02/10: BRICS: New Regionalism or New Global Governance?
8. 03/10: The Rise of Multi-Order Connectivity Regions?
9. 07/10: Collective Research Exercise
10. 14/10: Presentations and Discussion
All the lessons will take place from 4.30 to 6.00 pm in the seminar room of the Department of International Legal Historical and Political Studies.
1. 23/09: From Globalization to the Rise of Regionalism?
2. 4/09: Explaining and Understanding Regionalism: What Can Theory Tell Us?
3. 25/09: The Prototype (Western) Region? The European Union
4. 26/09: Regionalism beyond the West: How can it be?
5. 30/09: ASEAN: The Surprising (non-Western) Region?
6. 01/10: When China Rules the World? The Shanghai Cooperation Organization
7. 02/10: BRICS: New Regionalism or New Global Governance?
8. 03/10: The Rise of Multi-Order Connectivity Regions?
9. 07/10: Collective Research Exercise
10. 14/10: Presentations and Discussion
All the lessons will take place from 4.30 to 6.00 pm in the seminar room of the Department of International Legal Historical and Political Studies.
Prerequisites for admission
No prerequisite.
Teaching methods
Lectures by Prof. Emilian Kavalski (Visiting Professor from the Jagiellonian University in Krakow) and a collective research exercise coordinated by Prof. Simone Dossi.
Teaching Resources
There is no compulsory reading. Students who want to go deeper into the topcis of the lessons can read the following articles:
1. From Globalization to the Rise of Regionalism?
· Hurrel, Andrew (1995) "Explaining the Resurgence of Regionalism in World Politics", Review of International Studies, Vol. 21, No. 4, pp. 331-358
· Thakur, Ramesh and Luk van Langenhove (2006), "Enhancing Global Governance through Regional Integration", Global Governance, Vol. 12, No. 3, pp. 233-240.
2. Explaining and Understanding Regionalism: What Can Theory Tell Us?
· Jack Snyder (2004), "One World, Rival Theories," Foreign Policy (November/December): 53-62.
· Mansfield E. D. and H. V. Milner (2003) "The New Wave of Regionalism", International Organization, Vol. 53, No. 3, pp. 589-627.
3. The Prototype (Western) Region? The European Union
· Borzel, Tania and Thomas Risse (2009) "Diffusing (Inter)-Regional Relations: The EU as a Model for Regional Integration" KFG Working Paper Series 7.
· Jørgensen, Knud Erik and Morten Valbjørn (2012), "Four dialogues and the funeral of a beautiful relationship: European studies and new regionalism", Cooperation and Conflict,47(1).
4. Regionalism beyond the West: How can it be?
· Acharya, A. (2014). Global International Relations and regional worlds: A new agenda for international studies. International Studies Quarterly 58(4): 647-659.
· Mehmetcik, Hakan, and Hasan Hakses (2022). "Globalizing IR: Can Regionalism Offer a Path for Other Sub-Disciplines?". All Azimuth: A Journal of Foreign Policy and Peace 11 (1): 49-65.
· Sondarjee, M. (2023). Decentring the Western Gaze in International Relations. Millennium, 51(3), 686-710.
5. ASEAN: The Surprising (non-Western) Region?
· Yukawa, T. (2018). The ASEAN Way as a symbol: An analysis of discourses on the ASEAN norms. The Pacific Review 31(3): 298-314.
· David M. Jones (2008), "Security and Democracy: the ASEAN Charter and the Dilemmas of Regionalism in South-East Asia," International Affairs 84(4), 735-756
6. When China Rules the World? The Shanghai Cooperation Organization
· Lanteigne, Marc, (2006) "In Medias Res: The Development of the Shanghai Co-operation Organization as a Security Community", Pacific Affairs, Vol. 79, No 4.
· Seiwert, Ewa (2023). "China's Search for Partners with Shared Worldviews: Expanding the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization Family," Asian Affairs, 54(3), 453-479.
7. BRICS: New Regionalism or New Global Governance?
· Lagutina, M. L. (2019). BRICS in a world of regions. Third World Thematics 4(6): 442-458.
· Jayan, P. A. (2012). BRICS: Advancing Cooperation and Strengthening Regionalism. India Quarterly, 68(4), 363-384.
8. The Rise of Multi-Order Connectivity Regions?
· Gaens, B., Sinkkonen, V. & Vogt, H. (2023) Connectivity and Order: an Analytical Framework. East Asia 40, 209-228
· Nadine Godehardt and Karoline Postel-Vinay (2020) Connectivity and Geopolitics: Beware the "New Wine in Old Bottles" Approach, SWP Comment, No. 25.
1. From Globalization to the Rise of Regionalism?
· Hurrel, Andrew (1995) "Explaining the Resurgence of Regionalism in World Politics", Review of International Studies, Vol. 21, No. 4, pp. 331-358
· Thakur, Ramesh and Luk van Langenhove (2006), "Enhancing Global Governance through Regional Integration", Global Governance, Vol. 12, No. 3, pp. 233-240.
2. Explaining and Understanding Regionalism: What Can Theory Tell Us?
· Jack Snyder (2004), "One World, Rival Theories," Foreign Policy (November/December): 53-62.
· Mansfield E. D. and H. V. Milner (2003) "The New Wave of Regionalism", International Organization, Vol. 53, No. 3, pp. 589-627.
3. The Prototype (Western) Region? The European Union
· Borzel, Tania and Thomas Risse (2009) "Diffusing (Inter)-Regional Relations: The EU as a Model for Regional Integration" KFG Working Paper Series 7.
· Jørgensen, Knud Erik and Morten Valbjørn (2012), "Four dialogues and the funeral of a beautiful relationship: European studies and new regionalism", Cooperation and Conflict,47(1).
4. Regionalism beyond the West: How can it be?
· Acharya, A. (2014). Global International Relations and regional worlds: A new agenda for international studies. International Studies Quarterly 58(4): 647-659.
· Mehmetcik, Hakan, and Hasan Hakses (2022). "Globalizing IR: Can Regionalism Offer a Path for Other Sub-Disciplines?". All Azimuth: A Journal of Foreign Policy and Peace 11 (1): 49-65.
· Sondarjee, M. (2023). Decentring the Western Gaze in International Relations. Millennium, 51(3), 686-710.
5. ASEAN: The Surprising (non-Western) Region?
· Yukawa, T. (2018). The ASEAN Way as a symbol: An analysis of discourses on the ASEAN norms. The Pacific Review 31(3): 298-314.
· David M. Jones (2008), "Security and Democracy: the ASEAN Charter and the Dilemmas of Regionalism in South-East Asia," International Affairs 84(4), 735-756
6. When China Rules the World? The Shanghai Cooperation Organization
· Lanteigne, Marc, (2006) "In Medias Res: The Development of the Shanghai Co-operation Organization as a Security Community", Pacific Affairs, Vol. 79, No 4.
· Seiwert, Ewa (2023). "China's Search for Partners with Shared Worldviews: Expanding the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization Family," Asian Affairs, 54(3), 453-479.
7. BRICS: New Regionalism or New Global Governance?
· Lagutina, M. L. (2019). BRICS in a world of regions. Third World Thematics 4(6): 442-458.
· Jayan, P. A. (2012). BRICS: Advancing Cooperation and Strengthening Regionalism. India Quarterly, 68(4), 363-384.
8. The Rise of Multi-Order Connectivity Regions?
· Gaens, B., Sinkkonen, V. & Vogt, H. (2023) Connectivity and Order: an Analytical Framework. East Asia 40, 209-228
· Nadine Godehardt and Karoline Postel-Vinay (2020) Connectivity and Geopolitics: Beware the "New Wine in Old Bottles" Approach, SWP Comment, No. 25.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Attendance during the lessons and participation in a collective research exercise that will lead to presentations on a case of regional integration.
Professor(s)
Reception:
On Tuesdays from 2.30 to 5.30 pm (in person or online via Teams). Students are kindly requested to make an appointment in advance via email.
Dipartimento di Studi internazionali, giuridici e storico-politici, via Conservatorio 7, 1st floor, room 8