The Logic of Regional Integration: Europe and Beyond

Description

Regional integration has emerged as one of the most important developments in recent world politics. In this book Walter Mattli examines integration schemes in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Europe, but also in Latin America, North America and Asia since the 1950s. The book stresses the importance of market forces in determining the outcome of integration, but also highlights the impact of institutional factors. The book will provide students of political science, economics, and European studies with a new framework for the study of international cooperation.

'The historical and geographical sweep of The Logic of Regional Integration is very impressive - ranging from the nineteenth-century German Zollverein to the contemporary European Union to Mercosur and beyond. But Mattli's finest achievement is coupling this empirical depth with a rigorous, parsimonious and persuasive thesis. His central argument that economic disparities between insiders and outsiders drive regional integration is a major contribution to the debate about this important phenomenon.' Geoffrey Garrett, Yale University 'By combining a political economy approach with an historical and comparative perspective, Mattli offers a stimulating and thorough analysis of regional integration. His book is a major contribution to the understanding of one of the most challenging phenomena of our time.' Yves Meny, European University Institute