Regionalism and diffusion revisited: From final design towards stages of decision-making

摘要: An emerging research programme on diffusion across regional international organisations (RIOs) proposes that decisions taken in one RIO affect decision-making other RIOs. This work has provided a welcome corrective to endogenously-focused accounts of Nevertheless, by focusing the final design policies and institutional arrangements, it been conceptually overly narrow. led truncated understanding diffusion’s impact an unjustified view convergence as its primary outcome. Drawing public policy sociological research, we offer conceptual framework seeks remedy these weaknesses disaggregating process ‘receiving’ side. We suggest arrangements RIOs result from three stages: problematisation (identification something political problem), framing (categorisation problem possible solutions), scripting (design solutions). Diffusion can any combination stages. Consequently, effects are more varied potentially extensive than is currently recognised, persistent variation both outcomes. illustrate our re-evaluating dispute settlement institutions EEC, NAFTA, SADC. conclude discussing theoretical implications conditions likely promote diffusion.