ABSTRACT
The study of regionalism and its many facets is enjoying a renaissance of sorts within the larger, overlapping context of international relations (IR) and international political economy (IPE). Obviously, the 'region' and its various incarnations is not a new concept. However, in the present era characterized by a certain measure of uncertainty regarding the effects of globalization on all forms of political, economic and socio-cultural identity, the region - whether intra-state or supra-state - is as salient as ever. Concomitantly, the current era is also characterized by an international system that is in flux. The perceived stability of bi-polarity during the Cold War gave way to a decade of uncertainty, as the socalled 'New World Order' of the post-Cold War era was anything but orderly. In turn, the post-Cold War era was punctuated by the terror attacks of 11 September 2001, leading some to conclude that we have now entered a 'post-September 11th' era accompanied by further approbation concerning the stability of the international system.
