Indian Political Science Association

RELEVANCE OF REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Author(s): Shri Prakash Mani Tripathi
Source: The Indian Journal of Political Science, Vol. 71, No. 4 (OCT. - DEC., 2010), pp. 1243-
1250
Published by: Indian Political Science Association
Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/42748951
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The Indian Journal of Political Science
Vol. LXXI# No. 4, Oct.-Dec., 2010, pp. 1243-1250

RELEVANCE OF REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

ShriPrakash Mani Tripathi

The present paper discusses the concept of region, regionalism and the relevance of
regional organizations in modem world and concludes the cooperation is badly needed
af all levels of political interaction in national as well as international arena.

Regional organizations have considerable impact on international politics in chang

scenario. They are considered to be the most successful means of development, understandin
and security, poised for peace at large. This is why the contemporary International Politics
characterized by regionalism. Regional organizations, of varied nature and scope,
proliferated after the Second World War. In prevailing situations more and more state
getting together in regional grouping, violating astablished notion of and transferring som
the attributes of sovereignty, from the state to the higher entity. Since the Second World
global politics have witnessed the emergence of a new political phenomenon: the co-ope
and integration of states on regional-meaning continental scale.1 As countries in one contin
agree to integrate their economies creating free trade zones, customs, unions, or more
effects are felt else where.

Concept of Region

The region is geographical term with political connotation. A region is treated as conven

geographical unit comprising of more than two states of particular continent controll
concerned sovereign governments, whose interest in any particular subject is sufficie
compatible for them to be able to enter into effective multilateral co-operation.

In fact, a region has been defined by Bruce M. Russet as an ordinary, common

practical geographical area for which social and economic improvement programmes
been conceived, planned and undertaken2. A region is more than a country but less th
continent. It may be regarded as a geographical area having at least three states wit
which are objectively recognised as constituting a distinctive community, region or seg
of the global system. Regional co-operation implies association among such states 'to pr
common goals, meet common needs and resolve common problems. The commonality
interest is the central motivating force for their co-operation on a regional basis and also f
determining the modality, including institutional arrangements for such co-operation.3

As far as the meaning of 'Region' is concerned, normally it means smaller than s

but the understanding of the term in the context of International Relations has two connotat

Firstly a region is invariably an area, embracing the territories of three or more states. Th
states are bound together by ties of common interests as well as of geography. Secon

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The Indian Journal of Political Science 1244

those areas where 'Far flung' and geographically scattered n

real community strives for common interests. The outstanding
is the association of fifteen nations, on both besides of the
and Mediterranean areas, in the North Atlantic T reaty.

Regarding fast changing economic scenario of the world, th

has acquired a new momentum. The lack of enthusiasm amon
North in creating a New International Economic order based
the contrary, their protectionism have provided an added urgen
for greater co-operation among themselves. Increasing
themselves and their transmission to other developing count
essential for the attainment and sustenance of a relatively high

self-reliance would enhance the bargaining power of the Sou

co-operation, therefore, instead to being left to chance, m
South-South linkages built up deliberately through the creat
among the developing countries both at the global and at th

Concept of Regionalism

In emerging trends of international structural framewo

most useful platform. It is a post World War phenomenon a
forward as an alternative to Globalism, a superior substitute fo

Further, Regionalism- has been a product of world politics, init

the regions adjacent to them or even far off, to seek' a desi
balance that could cater to their respective regional and group i
in a functional term denotes a preferential approach to problem

to a region, or to a group, or to the policies advanced on the pa

The roots of Regionalism can be found in the cultural foun

the objective similarity of national problems, and the potential

which are necessary for the effective functioning of multilater
diverse and unwiedly; the distances - physical, economic,
between peoples at opposite ends of the earth are too form
working sense of common involvement and joint responsibility
offer a framework for negotiation or functional co-operati
Joseph S. Nye argues that Regionalism or Regional Organizat
in International co-operation and "an important middle ground"
and a federation of the world8.

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Relevance of Regional Organizations 1245
Nevertheless, regional organizations have grown rapidly be
the requirement of member countries. Scholars have referred
note of the contemporary world" 9. However, Regional Organi
but some are broader in ambitions. Academic Authors ha
Organizations" in a variety of ways. Some use the term "Regio
are not global in, their membership and these are selecti
membership on the basis of geographical principle. These o
their official or formal function like military, security, p
development. There are two types of regional organizatio
Organizations" that are relevant to integration and "Macro
that are involved in controlling conflict among their mem
International law have also used the term "Regional Or
membership in principle and in practice, on the basis of ge

Sometimes a distinction is made between a regional organiz

A regional organization in Joseph Nye's view is based
governments, possessing diplomatic forums and assiste
bureaucracy. Accordingly, Nye opines that the concept of '
as "a regular pattern of international among independent polit
than the term "Regional Organization"1 1 .

Thus, firstly, Regionalism in its broadest sense is a reg

of interaction among political units, geographically prox
Regionalism signifies the presence of the more particularis
not necessarily congruent with the regional system. For ex
not the broader aspects of Regionalism (i.e., a regional
particularistic aspect (i.e., a regional organization). Thus Is
inter-state and intra-regional interactions, represent one a
and the Arab League, another aspect of Regionalism in the

Besides these essential differences between regional arrang

alliances, Van Kleffen offers three factors which distingui
regional arrangements. Firstly, in alliances, as distinct fro
the accent is on closely concerted policy and action at all t
circumscribed object. Secondly, alliances may be offen
arrangements, if they are to deserve that name, is essentially
two partners are enough to form an alliance, whereas a greate
be a regional arrangement. In other words the collective eleme

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The Indian Journal of Political Science 1246

arrangements than in alliances12 . Therefore, a

may be described as some form of voluntary agre
joint action of states comprising, or having an
either generally organised as a region or delimi

In the sphere of International Politics a regi

association of states based on location in a given g
of interest of the participants. Regionalism mea
national goals. Thus "A regional arrangeme
sovereign states within a certain area or ha
joint purpose which should not be of an off
The concept of regional co-operation in the develo
of their quest for the establishment of a unifi
development; furthermore, the failure to implemen

Economic Order (NIEO) has led to increasing em

operation among the developing countries15.

The emergence of Regionalism was first seen in

Europe. The United Nations Charter also makes pr

this concept is not contrary to the UN charter. Th

of the necessity of pooling national resources f
world, but it is also an outgrowth of other pressu
present era. In recent years the pattern of Intern
State system for quite sometime. In this system t
important in comparison to modem independent s
"the true constituent member of the internationa

For their sustenance and development, Regi

the United Nations. In the United Nations charter

has been devoted to the subject of regional arrang

"resort to regional agencies and arrangements"
pacific settlement of disputes. Actually the reg
United Nations and are subordinate to and harm
proved immensely useful in many ways.

Firstly, it is proper and natural for the neighbo

common problems. The members of regional organ

more effectively. Thus they relieve the United Na

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Relevance of Regional Organizations 1247
problems and concentrate its attention on global issues.

Secondly, the regional organizations are able to meet to th

by guaranteeing regional collective security. The then UN
admitted that the regional arrangements can be very usef
world peace, provided they recognize the supremacy of the

Thirdly, the regional organizations have played an impo

and economic cooperation among the member states and
narrow nationalism. In this aspect, they constitute an impo

The regional organizations are able to operate more freely w

In short, it can be said that regional organizations have p
international sphere without undermining the authority of th

large these organizations have - accepted the overall author

Regionalism not only creates healthy atmosphere for t

other and seek the assistance in required fields concerned
development and security but it also helps in maintaining
Joseph S. Nye puts forth five main hypothesis in this regard.

The first one is the restoration of multipolarity16. Region

Regionalism is an important step towards restoring mglti-polar

Secondly, the existence of small and weak states, mor

reality leads to the temptation of intervention in domestic af
when the latter feel their interests threatened. To remove suc

such weak and small states could join to form larger regional

they could also gain economic benefits from such regional

Thirdly, it is argued in favour of Regionalism that econom

of going beyond national sovereignty, and of creating 'new re
By forming such functional economic organizations, the confl
these states might be reduced as their efforts would be direct

Fourthly, an important benefit of Regionalism is that

potential of controlling local disputes among its members. It i
by "marking peace divisible", regional organizations isolate
from becoming tangled with irrelevant problems and thus acq

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The Indian Journal of Political Science 1248

the regional organizations are particularly effectiv

geographical neighbours are more likely to und
and hence can address themselves to solve such conflicts better.

Finally, a globai organization is too ambitious a proposition and thus cannot command
the allegiance needed to fulfill its objectives in a world of opposing power groups. However,
nations in a given region could work together with better co-operation and efficiency in areas of
mutual benefit. Such countries having common interests in the region may take an active
interest in the region.

The defence and security is easier to be established on the regional level, rather than
on the universal level. The outbreak of aggression will be of direct concern only to those states
located within the area and that those states situated for away will not respond with assistance,

because their vital interests are not threatend. Another advantage is that relatively smaller
states can, by virtue of their regional association get equitable representation in world
organizations where such states often find it difficult to secure pieces on the major decision
making councils19. Regionalism provides a very powerful shield to the member states from the
world's many problems and conflicts.

To make regional organizations more useful effective and pertinent, the development
towards universalism should be attempted gradually than quickly. The regionalism is a
necessary stepping stone towards universalism. As Robert Boothby has observed on the
purely practical plan, regional organization is a prelude to any kind of global organization, we
must build on firm foundations, from the bottom upwards.20 In prevailing international scenario

multilateral negotiations and global economic competition have provided powerful incentives
for co-operation among states on a regional basis. With growing membership and expanding
competences, the members of concerned regional groupings progressively march towards
the fulfillment of desired objectives.

However, regionalism is an acknowledged feature of international relations and such

arrangements are now accomplished facts on the world scene. Moreover, they have achieved
a new meaning and a new significance in recent years. If properly developed, they can fill the
gap in the existing pattern of international society. But if used only as military alliance or bloc,
they may prove disturbing and rather useless after sometime. However, if they are closely
integrated with economic, social and cultural ties, they may lead to world integration ultimately.

Regional organizations in all parts of the world are forming an integral part of the process of
globalization.21 Regional arrangements may inevitably lead towards creation of supranational
global order. There is in this inter-locking or inter-weaving or grouping a guarantee of peace.

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 Relevance of Regional Organizations 1249
Nevertheless, unless regional units are subordinated to a
sufficiency can only be damaging to international relations
the world might be exclusively in regional compartments or o
the two organizational concepts may and do receive simu
questions relate to the balance bètween them."22 In the fin
operation at both the global as well as regional levels.
References :

1. Thomas Christiansom "European integration " in John Baylis and Steve Smith (ed.), The Globalization
of World Politics : An Introduction to International Relations. Third Edition , Oxford University Press,
2005, p. 580.

2. Bruce M. Russet, 'International Regions and International system', cited, in P.K. Mishra, 'South Asia's
Quest for Identity and .SARC1, India Quarterly, Vol.XL, Nos. 3 & 4, July-December, 1984, p. 316.

3. Mohammad Shamsul Haque, International Politics : A Third World perspective; Sterling Publishing
Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi / 1987, pp. 48-49.

4. Gamani Corea, 'Regional co-operation in South Asia: Perspectives and Prospects; South Asia Journal,
Vol.1 No. 1 (1987), p. 2.

5. S.D. Muni, " South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation", International Asian-forum, Vol. 18,
No.3-4, November 1987, p. 237.

6. Norman D. Palmer, The New Regionalism in Asia and the Pacific (Lexington: Books Co., 1991), p. 76.

7. Jean Gottmann, " Geography and International Relations", in W.A. Dauglas Jackson (ed.), Politics and
Geographic Relationship (Enqlewood Cliffs, N.J. Princeton Hall, 1964), p. 28.

8. Joseph S. Nye, Peace in Parts: Integration and Conflict in Regional Organization, (New York : University
Press of America, 1987), p. 3-4.

9. Joseph S. Nye, op. cit., p. 3.

10. Ellen Fray Walters, "The Prospects for Regionalism in World Affairs", in Richard Falk and Cyril Black
(eds.), The Future of the International legal order, Vol. 1 (Princeton N.J. : Princeton University Press,
1969), p. 18. See also Joseph S. Nye, op.cit., p. 8.

11. Joseph S. Nye (ed.) International Regionalism; Readings (Boston Mass, 1968), p. 5-15.

12. See, E.N. Van Kleffens, 'Regionalism and Regional Pacts". American Journal of International Law
(AJIL), (Washington D.C.) Vol. 43, Oct. 1949, p. 668.

13. N.J. Paçlelfòrd and C.A. Lincon, International Politics (New York, 1954), p. 609.

14. Kleffèns, E.N. Van, 'Regionalism and Political Pacts ' The American Journal of Law, XLIII, Oct. 1949,
p. 669.

15. Julius K. Nyerere, "South-South Co-operation" in Altaf Gauhar ed. Third World Strategy: Economic and
Political Cohesion in the South; (London, Third World Foundation, 1983), p. 10.

16. For details, see Karl Deutsch and J. David Singer "Multipolar power system and International Stability",
World Politics (Princeton, N.J.), April 1964, pp. 390-406. See also, R.N. Rösecrance, " Bipólarity ;
Mùltipolarity and the Future", Journal of Conflict Resolution (Beverly Hills, Cal.) (1966), pp. 314-24.

17. Roger Masters, the Nation is Burdened (New York (1967), pp. 58-61; see also Georg Ball, The
Discipline of Power (B'dston, 1968), pp. 110-15

18. "A Ferment of change", Journal of Common Market Studies, Vol. 1, no. 3, 1966, p. 211.

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The Indian Journal of Political Science 1250
19. Ronald J. Yaliem; Regionalism and World Order ( Wa

20. Quoted in Allan de Russett, Strengthing the Framew

21. Thomas Christiansom " European integration " in John

of Wortd Politics : An Introduction to International Relat
2005, p. 594.

22. Kleffens, E.N. Van , Regionalism and Political Pacts', T

p. 669.

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