ABSTRACT
From Colbert’s customs-union plan to integrate all the provinces of France, to Prussia’s Zollverein, from the British Commonwealth to Jean Monnet’s project of a unified Europe, regional economic cooperation was the subject and goal of many statesmen, historians, economists, as well as political scientists. Increasing globalisation in the world economy coupled with new geopolitical and strategic dynamics emerging in the aftermath of the Cold War has made regional economic cooperation schemes particularly attractive in recent years. From the typical example of the European Union (EU), to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Group (APEC) to the Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR), regional economic cooperation is flourishing in many regions around the world.
