Table of Contents

Preface.

Abbreviations.

I. Empirical Puzzle and Theoretical Approach.

Introduction.

The Weaknesses of Regional Integration Theories.

The Global Markets Approach in Explaining Cooperation.

Methodology and the Empirical Plausibility of the Hypotheses.

II. Global Markets: Development and Impact on States.

Global Financial Markets.

Global Production and Foreign Direct Investment.

World Trade.

Conclusion: Crises, Interests, and Instruments.

III. Global Markets and the European Single Market.

Liberalization Strategies in the Single Market Project "1992".

France.

Germany.

Great Britain.

The European Level.

Conclusion.

IV. Global Markets and MERCOSUR.

Liberalization Strategies in the Common Market of the South.

Argentina.

Excursus: Transnational Banks and the International Monetary Fund.

Brazil.

Conclusion.

V. Global Markets and NAFTA.

Liberalization Strategies in the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Mexico.

United States.

Conclusion.

VI. Comparative Conclusions, Empirical and Theoretical Results.

Empirical Results: Preference and the Global Markets Approach.

Theoretical Development of the Global Markets Approach.

Implications for Theories of Regional Integration and International Relations.

Notes.

References.

Index

About the Author

Stefan Schirm is Professor of Political Science at the University of Stuttgart, Germany

Reviews

'This book makes an important contribution to the transnational and comparative analysis of politics. It offers a theoretically convincing arguments supported by exemplary empirical testing. An important achievement.'
-- Ulrich Beck, University of Munich
'This carefully circumscribed claim is both well developed and supported. The cross-regional focus of the study is certainly most valuable and welcome.'
-- Peter Katzenstein, Cornell University