Explaining Post‐9/11 North American Regionalism: Of Clutter, Constraints, and Chaos

In: Politics & policy, Band 36, Heft 1, S. 108-131

Abstract

How do we explain North American regionalism theoretically after 9/11 rudely interrupted escalating integrative efforts? This article evaluates how accurately several competing theoretical models in international relations continue to explain post‐9/11 developments in the region. Assessing the basic tenets of neofunctionalism, security community, interdependence, neorealism, and certain intelligence‐based paradigms, the study argues that many expectations raised by these theories concerning the government, culture, and economy of the region have not been met. Furthermore, a host of phenomena now developing in the region is neither explained by, nor has been predicted by, any of these competing approaches. The article's main findings are that, first, this paradigm irrelevance/irreverence is confirmed by increasingly incompatible policies across the region; second, retreating integration and constrained security interests have produced imperfect interdependence in North America; and third, widening gaps between public preferences and policy outcomes are becoming clearly visible.