Security regionalisms: lessons from around the world

This paper analyses developments in regional security governance since 1945. It argues that regional organizations around the world have come to play increasingly important roles in security provision, often in conjunction with the United Nations whose charter makes ample provision for such cooperation. It tracks the histories of regional organizations and considers points of similarity as well as difference. While acknowledging the important role of European institutions in encouraging regionalisms around the world, the paper’s principal focus in on non-European organizations, like the African Union, ASEAN or the Arab League. Three security arenas are explored in some detail: peace operations, non-proliferation and anti-terrorist measures. While far from exhaustive these three high profile security issues provide a good illustration of the robustness and resilience of security regionalism, its agenda setting capacity and its interface with evolving global security structures.