Barriers of regional economic cooperation development: Theoretical perspectives

The increasing number of regional cooperation developments has attracted many researchers and scholars to explore further. This paper has utilized theoretical perspectives in analyzing the development of regional cooperation of Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). This article explores the development of SADC and RCEP from the lens of regionalism, neoliberal institutionalism and linkage politics theories. This study is based on a combination of thorough literature review and semi-structured interviews. By drawing regionalism theory and utilizing neoliberal institutionalism, the results show that both SADC and RCEP have made adjustments despite the differences and have pursued common goals based on common interests as the basis of these formations under the common agendas that have been agreed on. From the lens of linkage politics theory shows that the paths to realize the common goals were challenging for both formations due to the different interests of many involving countries influenced by domestic level politics.