The Study of Regions in International Relations Theory

Abstract

There are a great number of books within the discipline of International Relations that deal with the general topic of regions and regionalism. Meanwhile, the fields of regional security, regional order and regional power have, particularly since the end of the Cold War, expanded substantially. Hence, the paradigm shift of 1989–90 triggered the rise of new interpretations of the world, with a growing interest in (world) regions being a decisive part of this development. However, most of these interpretations focus on the categorization of regions or on the modus of political regulation within a given regional context, without spending much time on dealing with the historicity and making of regions. Scholars cite a ‘world of regions’, but discussion is lacking about whose world of regions they are referring to. In IR theory, the conceptualization/re-conceptualization of regions — as well as the issue that who says what about regions actually matters in the political constitution of regions (the question of perspective) — has not been given too much attention.¹