Book Description

This book investigates the origins and dynamics of sub-regional phenomena based on international river basins, namely the Mekong and Danube rivers. It emphasizes the integration process of the Greater Mekong Sub-region and the European Strategy for the Danube Region, which are located in two different geopolitical and structural settings—one in Southeast Asia in the regional context of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the other in Central and Eastern Europe within the regional context of the EU. By comparing two unique case studies within different structural settings, additional and valuable insights into the occurrence and formation of sub-regional integration processes are provided, enabling an evaluation of similarities and differences. Understanding sub-regional integration dynamics requires not only ‘looking upward’ to the regional and even the global level, but indeed ‘looking downwards’ to the local level. After all, sub-regional integration processes are generally described as ‘bottom-up’ processes, based on local interests and expectations. Despite the growing number of sub-regional projects, sub-regionalism remains inadequately studied in the field of political science, and, as such, this book offers unique contributions to the understanding of sub-regional integration processes. Consequently, it will be of interest to readers who are interested in regional and sub-regional integration processes, as well as those with a specific interest in both the EU and ASEAN geographic regions.