Difference Between Regionalism And Regionalization

The general aspect of regionalism and regionalization in both political and economic scope has gained traction across global economies in the recent past. Nevertheless, with the advent of globalization, coupled with hitherto closed economies embracing neo-liberal economic ideas, there has been a massive upsurge of the two ideas in the last decade across the globe. Despite the traction and buzz created by the two terms, there has been a profound lacuna in the general meaning and understanding of the two ideas among global citizens (Mansfield & Solingen, 2010). In this regard, it is imperative to pose the questions, what are the salient differences between regionalism and regionalization? And what are the most recognizable political and economic logic of regionalism and regionalization? Moreover, the question as to whether a regional constitutes geographical proximity is pertinent to this debate. Almost invariably, economic pundits and strategists aver that a region should be defined within the confines of proximity regarding geography, shared political ideologies, cultural and socio-economic homogeneity, as well as political institutions. However, to understand the primary motivation for global economies to pursue either of the two ideas, it is imperative to deconstruct their similarities and differences within the economics and socio-political perspectives. Regionalism is generally construed to mean a highly traditional top-down intergovernmental and politically driven