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New regionalism in practice : a strategic partnership between European Union and Mercosur.
Fanturová, Anna ; Kučerová, Irah (advisor) ; Jeřábek, Martin (referee)
This thesis deals with the interregional relations between the European Union and Mercosur. It is approached as a single case study where the examined case is defined as "the strategic partnership between the European Union and Mercosur in the context of new regionalism". The thesis consists of three main chapters. The first chapter explains the phenomenon of new regionalism and interregionalism and deals with two theoretical approaches to regional integration - neofunctionalist and intergovernmental. The subject of the second chapter is the development of regional integration within Mercosur and the analysis of the relations between the EU and Mercosur from the early 1990's till present. The current negotiations between the two regions are aimed at the conclusion of the Association Agreement creating free trade area and consisting of three pillars: political dialogue, cooperation and trade. The negotiations were officially launched in 1999, later suspended in 2004 and re-launched at Madrid Summit in 2010. The thesis seeks to find out how the EU and Mercosur are motivated to sign the agreement and what are the main obstacles blocking the successful conclusion of the negotiation process. To this end, the third chapter analyzes the three pillars of the Association agreement under negotiation paying...
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Analýza potenciální zóny volného obchodu mezi EU a Mercosurem
Tomášková, Michaela
This bachelor thesis focuses on the analysis of a potential free-trade area between European Union and the Mercosur. The formation of the free-trade area between both groupings would be done by signing the Association agreement, which has been the subject of negotiations for several years. The theoretical part is dedicated to the explanation of basic terms that are associated with the integration processes and a basic characteristic of the development of the integration in Latin America. The subjects of the analytical part are the relationships between the European Union and Mercosur, their history and evolution. Another part of the thesis is a mutual business exchange between both integration blocs, which is graphically symbolized. The goal of the thesis is to identify the main obstacles that prevent the formation of the free-trade area and to describe the current situation of negotiations of the Association agreement.
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Human rights dialogue between regional organisations: case study EU-ASEAN
Boháčová, Zuzana ; Váška, Jan (advisor) ; Šlosarčík, Ivo (referee)
This bachelor thesis deals with human rights dialogue between European Union and Association of South East Asian Nations. It approaches the subject in the context of interregionalism and it aims to answer the question of whether a different membership concept in these regional organisations presents an obstacle to mutual human rights dialogue. While the values of human rights and democracy are a prerequisite for membership in the EU and also a part of its identity, ASEAN does not require any such conditions from its members. There is also a difference in the concept of national sovereignty or the process of socialisation of member states in these organisations. By describing specific examples of East Timor and Myanmar, the paper shows different reactions of EU and ASEAN to human rights violations in these countries. Furthermore, by analysing joint documents from the ASEAN-EU ministerial meetings, the thesis recapitulates the course of human rights dialogue between the organisations from the 1990s to the present day and shows the disagreements that have occurred during this period. The thesis then concludes that the human rights dialogue did not make a significant progress during this period also due to a fundamentally different membership concept in these regional organisations.
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New regionalism in practice : a strategic partnership between European Union and Mercosur.
Fanturová, Anna ; Kučerová, Irah (advisor) ; Jeřábek, Martin (referee)
This thesis deals with the interregional relations between the European Union and Mercosur. It is approached as a single case study where the examined case is defined as "the strategic partnership between the European Union and Mercosur in the context of new regionalism". The thesis consists of three main chapters. The first chapter explains the phenomenon of new regionalism and interregionalism and deals with two theoretical approaches to regional integration - neofunctionalist and intergovernmental. The subject of the second chapter is the development of regional integration within Mercosur and the analysis of the relations between the EU and Mercosur from the early 1990's till present. The current negotiations between the two regions are aimed at the conclusion of the Association Agreement creating free trade area and consisting of three pillars: political dialogue, cooperation and trade. The negotiations were officially launched in 1999, later suspended in 2004 and re-launched at Madrid Summit in 2010. The thesis seeks to find out how the EU and Mercosur are motivated to sign the agreement and what are the main obstacles blocking the successful conclusion of the negotiation process. To this end, the third chapter analyzes the three pillars of the Association agreement under negotiation paying...
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The Role of ASEM in Eurasian Relations
Beroun, Vladimír ; Voráček, Emil (advisor) ; Eichler, Jan (referee) ; Maitah, Mansoor (referee) ; Handl, Vladimír (referee)
The main objective of our doctoral thesis is to evaluate the role of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and its political, economic and socio-cultural pillars as a political process in interregional (multilevel) governance in Eurasian relations. We have conducted a unique case study that is based on a holistic qualitative interpretation by means of a postpositivist perspective and discourse analysis. Given the transitional and multidimensional nature of interregionalism as a political process, we are applying the (neo)realist balancing with elements of (neo)liberal multilateralism and social constructivism as the basic theoretical approach. Based on this structure, we have come to the conclusion that (1) ASEM as an interregional policy framework is too flexible (in terms of its scope and agenda-setting) and too inclusive (in terms of its enlargement). (2) Given the inability of ASEM to actively respond to various challenges and to implement properly its policies through its currently available instruments, this Eurasian interregional process cannot be regarded as a fully-fledged contribution the global (multilevel) governance. (3) Therefore interregionalism as part of the ASEM process will not lead to a creation of an "Eurasian Century", despite the undeniable need to identify corresponding supranational political regimes that will efficiently promote a balance of power between Europe, Asia and America. (4) Interregionalism as a political approach cannot be demoted to a loose and informal interaction of nation states or regions only because the current challenges in international relations require an organized and results-oriented framework for cooperation. (5) Additionally, the existing bilateral relations between individual countries in Asia and Europe will continue to be the key and most efficient form of solving various issues and challenges between the states.
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Interregionalism in external relations of the European union
Ambler, Michal ; Hnát, Pavel (advisor) ; Musiyenko, Svitlana (referee)
European Union is a significant player in processes of so-called "new regionalism". One of them is interregionalism, i.e. establishing relations at the level of two or more integration blocs. But what is the importance of such connections and the economic potential of ongoing negotiations for EU? This thesis uses existing theoretical findings from the field and analysis of economic relations with three main interregional partners so as to clarify their position in EU's external relations, in the first chapter, while assessing the present state of negotiations and future prospects emerging from the cooperation, in the second chapter.
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Myanmar in EU - ASEAN Relations
Slavíková, Kamila ; Knotková, Vladimíra (advisor) ; Zemanová, Štěpánka (referee)
Interregionalism is a globally present phenomenon, yet it has been attracting considerable attention of scholars only since recently. There is no single interpretation of interregionalism and different functions are attributed to it by different theories on international relations. Constructivists highlight its potential to form and influence the collective identities of regions taking part in a particular interregional dialogue. This thesis aspires to answer the question as to whether a constructivist approach is applicable in the case of EU -- ASEAN dialogue on the human rights issue. The human rights issue is here represented by Myanmar.
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Interregionalism in the world economy with focus on EU´s interregional agreements
Šálený, Václav ; Cihelková, Eva (advisor) ; Hnát, Pavel (referee)
This bachelor thesis deals with interregionalism, which has systematically developed in the world economy since the 90's. The thesis focuses mainly on European Union's interregional agreements with Associaton of Southeast Nations, Common Southern Market and Gulf Cooperation Council. The aim of the thesis is to analyze these interregional dialogues in terms of their developement, institutionalization and potential economic impact of free trade areas. The first chapter deals with interregionalism in theory and its functions in the world economy. The second chapter focuses on interregionalism in practice and on the only completed interregional agreement. The final chapter deals with the selected EU's interregional agreements
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Role of the European Union in Latin America: a Change after the Rio Summit?
Bakule, Martin ; Cihelková, Eva (advisor) ; Dvořáková, Vladimíra (referee) ; Kašpar, Václav (referee) ; Opatrný, Josef (referee)
The thesis "Role of the European Union in Latin America: a Change after the Rio Summit?" focuses on alternations of the position of the European Union (EU) in Latin America after the Rio Summit (1999) which was supposed to be a milestone in European-Latin-American relations. The main objective is to identify and explore the EU role and its trends which result not only from the economic links but also the actions of the EU institutions. Factors of unequal position of Latin America in mutual relations, as well as the impact of the interregional strategy of the EU are of special focus. The thesis is organized as follows. The chapter 1 lays conceptual and theoretical grounds and develops the methodology of "the Atlantic triangle" to frame the issue in interregional relations concepts. The chapter 2 analyses the EU and Latin America as subjects of interregional relations. As for the Latin-American region, its social-economic features, development strategy orientation and its impacts and subregional integration are examined. The EU region subchapter is focused on the interregional strategy, its design and development, as well as the multidimensional nature of the relations and its component dynamics (trade, political dialogue, development cooperation). The Chapter 3 identifies and explores external factors which influence the European-Latin-American ties. According to the triangle methodology, the inevitable influence of the United States (the Anglo-American region in the thesis concept) is studied separately from the global environment and other regions. The Chapter 4 quantifies the economic links of the Latin-American region. It examines the shares and trends in trade, investment, development cooperation transfers and migration. The Chapter 5 studies the institutionalised relations within the Atlantic triangle. It classifies the existing links of the Latin-American region (treaties, fora), assesses the role of interregional summits, compares the political approaches from the United States (US) and the EU in trade, development and security areas and studies in detail the EU impact on several aspects of Latin-American institutional configuration (e.g. regional integration). Among others, the most important conclusions drawn in the last chapter are the following: The unequal position of Latin America in relations with the EU can be attributed to its development characteristics as well as its fragmentation that has recently been progressing. It results in week coordination capability of Latin-American countries on the subregional level and absence of effective coordination on regional level. The interregional strategy of the EU aimed at building "Birregional Strategic Partnership" has not met Latin-American expectations. Although the situation in both regions and global environment has changed substantially from the strategy initiation, the strategy concept remains unaltered which is reflected the mutual relation stagnation. The EU strategy has not proved to be effective in fostering the EU role in Latin America. The free trade negotiation balance of the EU and the US is unfavorable to the EU which has not been able to conclude the association agreements (a basic tool to build the partnership) with its major Latin-American partners (MERCOSUR). The mid/long-term trends in the economic positions on the Latin-American markets have been also unfavorable to the EU in favor to the US and Asian partners. The ineffective strategy did not reverse nor stop such trends. However, the EU role is still not negligible in Latin-American aspirations to diversify its external links from the US influence. The relations with the EU display evident counter-balancing features. The EU also plays the role of "external federator" on subregional level but its influence is rather limited. The overall conclusion is that the Rio Summit did not start closer cooperation. The weakening economic relations are not supported by an effective interregional strategy from the EU. The role of the EU is therefore diminishing.
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EU and ASEAN - issues and challenges of interregional integration
Svoboda, Jan ; Stuchlíková, Zuzana (advisor) ; Krč, Jakub (referee)
This paper is focused on potential benefits and troubles of regional co-operation exceeding regional borders. The issue is exemplified by the interregional relations between the European Union (EU) and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). The first chapter deals with theoretical aspects of transregional and interregional integration. The second chapter concerns general characteristics of ASEAN. The third chapter is about relations between EU and ASEAN. The last chapter deals with benefits and costs, which could accompany creation of the free trade area EU-ASEAN.
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