ABSTRACT
The comparative method is not only looking for similarities in various continents, but also for differences beyond apparent convergences. In particular the focus will be on the evolving interaction betweeen external and internal variables.
This chapter is crucial regarding the very distinctive impact of regionalism on world politics, which may also address the question of international relations theory. What is notably worthy of attention is the evolving balance between exogenous and endogenous factors. By exogenous factors we understand not only general external factors but systemic factors. What is extremely relevant is, firstly, the changing evolution of regionalism in the same systemic context, and secondly, the impact of systemic change in different historical continental contexts, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas.
