World-Regional Social Policy and Global Governance: New Research and Policy Agendas in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America / Edition 1

by Bob Deacon, Maria Cristina Macovei, Luk Van Langenhove, Nicola Yeates

Overview

This volume explores the case for and the prospects of the development of world-regional social policies as integral elements of a pluralistic, equitable and effective system of global governance.

Focusing on transnational regionalism, this book examines the trajectory and crossing over of the three strands of scholarly analysis within the past decade which have given rise to this volume: the perceived negative impact of neo-liberal globalisation upon national social policy; the need for but the difficulty of securing reforms in the institutions of global social governance; and the increasing salience of the world-regional level of governance in handling cross-border issues.

The authors develop an intellectual and research agenda that will also inform the political development of an international programme concerned with the social policy dimensions of regional governance. Combining the perspectives and collective expertise of a team of international scholars and activists, the book features:

• Theoretical and policy cases for a focus on regionalism and social policy
• A mapping and analysis of social policy dimensions of regional integration processes and formations in four continents
• An assessment of the regional dimensions of global agencies, in particular of the UN (ILO, WHO, UNESCO, UNDP) including the approach to regional social policy of the UN Regional Economic Commissions and Development Banks
• An articulation of a multi-levelled conceptualisation of global social governance within which regional associations of countries plays a significant part.

The book will be of interest to students and scholars of social policy, development studies, international relations and political science, especially those focused on the public policy dimensions of globalisation, regionalisation and international development.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415456593
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	10/23/2009
Series:	Routledge Advances in International Relations and Global Politics , #79
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Bob Deacon is Professor of International Social Policy and Director of the Globalism and Social Policy Programme (GASPP) at the University of Sheffield, UK.

Maria Cristina Macovei is Researcher at the United Nations University-Comparative Regional Integration Studies (UNU-CRIS), Bruges, Belgium.

Luk Van Langenhove is Director of the United Nations University-Comparative Regional Integration Studies (UNU-CRIS), Bruges, Belgium and Vice-President of the International Social Science Council.

Nicola Yeates is Professor of Social Policy at the Department of Social Policy and Centre for Citizenship, Identity and Governance (C-CIG), The Open University, UK.

Table of Contents

Introduction Section One: The Case for Regionalism with a Strong Social Dimension 1. Regional Formations and Global Governance 2. Globalization, Regional Integration and Social Policy 3. Regional Social Policy from Above:International Organizations and Regional Social Policy 4. Regional Social Policy from Below: Reclaiming Regional Integration: Social movements and Civil Society Organizations as Key Protagonists Section Two: The Social Policy Dimensions of Regional Integration:Case Studies from Four Continents 5. Social Policies and Rights in the European Union and the Council of Europe: Exhortation, Regulations, and Enforcement 6. Regional Social Policies in Latin America: Binding Material for a Young Giant 7. Regional Social Policy in Asia: Prospects and Challenges from the ASEAN and SAARC Experience 8. Regional Social Policies in Africa: Declarations Abound Section Three: Regional Social Integration and Global Social Governance 9. The Evolving Context of World-Regional Social Policy 10. Global Social Governance and World Regional Social Policy