Inter-regionalism: a security studies perspective

This chapter illustrates in which form regions and interregional dynamics have been considered in the security studies literature and proposes a possible way to integrate a greater attention to interregional dynamics. The authors analyse four main approaches to security studies that have dealt with regional security and - more indirectly - interregional security: i) security communities; ii) regional security complexes; iii) regional orders; and iv) multilateral security governance. The chapter concludes that attention to regions and interregional relations in the security studies literature has been rather limited. The little space reserved to the analysis of regional dynamics has been captured by few approaches looking at two main dynamics: the process of formation of a region characterised by a low (or lower) probability of internal war, as a result alternative processes; and the analysis of regional responses to security challenges which cannot be dealt with at the level of the state but need the interaction among different levels of governance. In reality, conclude the authors, these approaches are not incompatible, but could and should be combined.