UNdefined regions: toward a new typology of regions in the UN

IF 2.3 Q1 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Philippe De Lombaerde, Marco D'Attoma, Neil Dullaghan, Hana Umezawa, Caroline Verhelst
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Even though the UN interacts with regions and regionalism, a systematic analysis of the development of the regional dimension within their bodies is still needed. Traditional categories identifying simply electoral or operational roles for regions fall short in accounting for their multi-layered and increasing impact. Aiming at formulating a new typology and research agenda in this area, the authors approached the issue inductively. First, they provided a historical mapping of the regional manifestations in the framework of the UN and UN-regional organization interactions. Second, they analyzed relevant debates for the UN on peace, security, and sustainability through the lens of the regional dimension. What emerges is that, though vaguely defined and seriously fragmented, regions are largely used as electoral bodies, socio-economic areas, and statistical categories by the UN, that follow historical, cultural, and political rather than purely geographical criteria in their shaping. Besides, in the last 20 years, regions have become crucial for peacekeeping and conflict resolution in specific areas, as well as they are paramount to the implementation of global sustainability goals. All in all, the inductive approach has outlined three dimensions of UN regionalism: regions' political and operational roles; institutionalized vs. non-institutionalized groupings; and their formal vs. informal status. Finally, the authors suggest that strengthening partnerships between the UN and regional entities should be a milestone for a new era of networked and multi-layered multilateralism, while the harmonization of statistical regions is desirable at the operational level.
未定义区域:迈向联合国区域的新类型
尽管联合国与区域和区域主义相互作用,但仍需要对其机构内区域层面的发展进行系统分析。仅确定区域选举或业务作用的传统类别在考虑其多层次和日益增加的影响方面存在不足。作者对这一问题进行了归纳性探讨,以期在这一领域形成新的类型学和研究议程。首先,它们提供了联合国和联合国-区域组织互动框架下的区域表现的历史地图。其次,他们从地区角度分析了联合国关于和平、安全和可持续性的相关辩论。现在的情况是,尽管区域的定义模糊且严重分散,但它们在很大程度上被联合国用作选举机构、社会经济领域和统计类别,它们的形成遵循历史、文化和政治标准,而不是纯粹的地理标准。此外,在过去20年中,区域已成为特定地区维持和平和解决冲突的关键,对实现全球可持续发展目标至关重要。总而言之,归纳方法概述了联合国区域主义的三个方面:区域的政治和业务作用;制度化与非制度化群体;以及他们的正式和非正式地位。最后,作者建议,加强联合国和区域实体之间的伙伴关系应该成为网络化和多层次多边主义新时代的一个里程碑,而统计区域的协调在业务层面是可取的。
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来源期刊
Frontiers in Political Science
Frontiers in Political Science Social Sciences-Political Science and International Relations
CiteScore
2.90
自引率
0.00%
发文量
135
审稿时长
13 weeks
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