Trade and globalization : an introduction to regional trade agreements / David A. Lynch.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Introduction to Regional Trade Agreements: Making Sense of the RTA Spaghetti Bowl -- The Importance of RTAs -- Why RTAs? -- Controversies about RTAs -- Typology of RTAs and Other Economic Agreements -- Comparing RTAs/Variation in RTAs -- Organization of This Book -- 2. Africa -- African Monetary Unions -- Context of African RTAs: African International Political Economy (IPE) -- RTAs in Africa -- 3. The Americas -- South American RTAs -- Context of South American RTAs: South American IPE---Statism, Economic Liberalism, and Its Critics -- Caribbean RTAs -- Context of Caribbean RTAs: Caribbean IPE---Diversity, Vulnerability, and Security -- Context of Central American RTAs: Central American IPE---History and Security -- RTAs in the Americas -- 4. Asia -- Context of East Asian RTAs: East Asian IPE (Of Tigers, Cubs, Dragons, and Rising Suns) -- Context of Southeast Asian RTAs: Southeast Asian IPE -- Context of South Asian RTAs: South Asian IPE---Can Geopolitics Be Overcome? -- RTAs in Asia -- 5. Europe -- Context of European RTAs: Why European Integration? -- RTAs in Europe -- 6. Russia and the Former Soviet Republics -- Context of RTAs in the Former Soviet Union Region: IPE of Incomplete and Varied Transitions -- RTAs in the Former Soviet Union -- 7. The Middle East and North Africa -- Explaining Low Levels of MENA Integration in the Post-World War II Period -- Context of MENA RTAs: IPE of the MENA -- RTAs in the Middle East and North Africa -- 8. The Pacific Islands -- Context of Pacific Islands RTAs: IPE of the Pacific Islands Region -- RTAs in the Pacific Islands Region -- 9. Conclusion -- RTAs: Facade or Real Structures? -- RTAs: Dynamic, Not Static -- Regional Patterns of RTAs -- RTAs, Globalization, and International Political Economy Theories -- Concluding Thoughts: RTAs as Microcosms of Globalization -- Appendix A. The World Trade Organization -- The Uruguay Round -- The Doha Development Agenda -- WTO Membership -- Appendix B. European Union Preferential Access Agreements -- Appendix C. US Free Trade Agreements and Pending Free Trade Agreements.

""The Sheer number of regional trade agreements worldwide is redefining the old order of global trade governance. This excellent and comprehensive book provides both experts and students with a new understanding of their complexity, dynamics, costs, and opportunities. Perhaps more important, Lynch dispels many of the myths and misunderstandings about the next phase of global multilateralism and new state practices. Surely an impressive achievement by any standard."---Daniel Drache, York University" ""Lynch deftly untangles the spaghetti bowl of RTAs, providing detailed understanding of the dynamics of trade agreements. This rich compendium on trade integration underscores the importance of regionalism in our globalized economy."---Patrice Franko, Colby College" "Regional trade agreements (RTAs) are not new, but their complexity and importance in global economics and politics has grown exponentially in the past two decades. Tackling this daunting proliferation head on, this book provides a much-needed guide to RTAs. Setting current regional agreements in their economic, political, and historical context, David A. Lynch describes and compares every significant RTA, region by region. He clearly explains their intricate inner workings, their webs of collaboration and conflict, and their primary goals and effectiveness. Lynch's deeply knowledgeable study bridges the ideological divides in scholarly and public debate, including economists' emphases on markets and efficiency versus antiglobalization activists' concerns over inequality and social ills. By building a middle ground between micro and macro analysis and clarifying technical terminology, this concise and accessible book will be an invaluable reference for all readers."--BOOK JACKET.