Regionalism, Multilateralism, and the Politics of Global Trade

Two seemingly antithetical forces -- globalization and regionalism-- are shaping the contemporary world economy. Globalization isaccelerating interdependence on a worldwide basis. Regionalism attemptsto harness the pressures of globalization through strengthenedcollaboration among states, most notably in Europe through the EuropeanUnion, in North America through NAFTA, and in Asia Pacific throughAPEC. The rise of regionalism and an emerging interregional politicshas stimulated a lively debate about whether regionalism supports orundermines the global trading system. The essays in Regionalism, Multilateralism, and the Politics ofGlobal Trade reflect this debate and give it focus. Thecontributors, all recognized experts, explore the changing relationshipbetween regionalism and multilateralism and examine the implicationsfor national policy in a global trading system. Their discussioncentres on four interrelated themes: the changing nature ofregionalism, emerging patterns of interregional relations, the evolvingrelationship between regionalism and multilateralism, and theimplications for state policy (particularly for Canada). This rich and diverse collection of essays provides new insightsinto the complex and changing relationships between states and regionswithin the global trading order. They will be of interest to professorsand students of international relations, political economy, and tradelaw, as well as public policy makers, NGOs, and trade policyanalysts.