 | Civil Society Regionalization in Southern Africa: The Cases of Trade and HIV/AIDS Subjects: Politics & International Relations; Social Sciences; International Political Economy; International Politics; International Relations; Sociology & Social Policy; African Politics; Global Governance; Political Sociology; This book investigates civil society regionalization in Southern Africa. The point of departure is the study of 'new regionalism', which refers to the wave of regional integration globally since the 1980s. However, whilst the current regionalism studies undoubtedly contributes to a deeper understanding of regional processes, important gaps remain, in particular the relatively scant emphasis given to civil society. This particularly relates to regions in the global South, including Southern Africa. The overarching aim of this book is therefore to analyse the dynamics of civil society regionalization in Southern Africa, both empirically and from a theoretical perspective, through analysing the cases of trade and HIV/AIDS. The study finds that CSOs can be more active in regional governance than has previously been conceptualized and are also highly active in terms of constructing regionalization through framing issues and, to a less extent, making identities 'regional'. Furthermore, the book enhances knowledge of the heterogeneous nature of civil society regionalization. Lastly, it is demonstrated that 'going regional' is only partly an autonomous process and also has to be understood as under the influence of the deeper statist and capitalist social structures marking the regional order in Southern Africa. Andréas Godsäter is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Global Studies at University of Gothenburg, teaching International Relations. He is also an Associate Fellow at the Center for the Study of Governance Innovation, University of Pretoria. His main research interests are regionalism, governance, civil society, democracy, development co-operation, migration, and environmental issues with a special geographical focus on Africa. |
