045 When the EU puts its foot in it: The unintended consequence of interregional Interactions

Wednesday, March 28, 2018: 2:00 PM-3:45 PM
Avenue West Ballroom (InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile)
As the EU championed a proactive foreign policy role for regional actors such as itself, the study of interregional relations has become ever more central to both regionalism and EU studies. As such, interregionalism acts as a complement to the usual topics of interests to regionalism – e.g. causal determinants of integration, the dynamics of norm diffusion, or the relative efficiency of regional organisations. Interregionalism helps to go beyond the intrinsic euro-centrism of the field while also allowing for a more dynamic understanding of the interactions between European and global imperatives. To this end, the study of interregionalism includes any relationship between a given macro-regional organisation such as the EU and another actor hailing from a different macro-regional environment. The following panel will focus on the unintended consequences of the EU’s interregional engagements, considering such programmes often produce completely unplanned effects or, even at times the exact opposite effect to what was intended - e.g. disempowering actors instead of empowering them; reinforcing the state’s authority instead of furthering decentralisation; peace operations contributing to illicit business activities; regional market-building efforts which end up working at cross-purpose; or trade facilities that foster protectionism. Mobilizing a shared international political sociology lens, the panel will unpack some of the unintended consequences born from a selection of interregional power dynamics involving the EU. Ass uch, the panel will shed new light on what European involvement in other regions signifies for both the Europeans themselves as well as their partner regions.
Chair:
Carla Santos
Discussant :
Kolja Raube
Why Unintended Consequences Matter in Interregional Relations
Elisa Lopez Lucia, Institut d'études européennes - Université Libre de Bruxelles
The Unintended Consequences of Forum Shopping: Is the EU Drowning in the East Asian 'noodle Bowl'?
Frederik G.A.A. Ponjaert, Institut d'études européennes - Université Libre de Bruxelles
The Sahel As an Unintended Region - Competing Regionalisms and Insecurity Dynamics
Edoardo Baldaro, University of Naples “L’Orientale”
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