Comparative overlapping regionalism: Europe and Asia

The rise of regionalism has led to more countries joining multiple regional organizations and mechanisms, resulting in overlapping regionalism. This overlapping phenomenon carries a dual nature as both a regional integration strategy and political maneuvering. Thus, this thesis explores the overlaps in regionalism, using Polanyi's double movement concept to understand and compare its appearances in Europe and Asia. Polanyi's perspective provides a holistic understanding of the relationship between regional integration and national interest in overlapping regionalism. In this vein, this study illustrates how overlapping regionalism, while primarily a regional integration strategy, also serves as a mechanism for states to balance regional integration pressures with the preservation of national interests. The findings illustrate that while the motives and effects of overlapping regionalism vary among regions, there are countermovements in both regions to protect societal interests and national autonomy.