Regional entegration theory, important applications of integration and Turkey's position in integration applications

iiiABSTRACTTwo important trends in the field of politics and economics have begun to gainemphasis as a result of the change in the international system following the end of theCold War.First of these trends is globalization. Capital movements, trade and technology hasspread and concentrated in a transnational manner, eroding the concept of the nationstate and bringing and tying overseas interest groups and interests of individuals from avariety of countries ever closer.The other trend in the world economy is the concept of regionalization which canbe described as a union of countries that are geographically close to each other or in thesame region and that have similar levels of development, similar regimes and historywith the intent of developing their economic relationships and cooperation. Althoughregionalization is seen as an alternative to globalization it is indeed an accelerator ofglobalization.This thesis reviews the theoretical effects of regionalization movements, importantregional integrations in existence and their place in the world economy while examiningthe integrations and relationships of these integrations which Turkey is a member of.In this context the first part of the thesis builds up the theoretical framework ofregionalization, reviews possible outcomes of regionalization and tries to put forth thefeatures of a successful regional integration.The second part of this thesis is concerned with practical applications ofregionalization and reviews important regional integrations in existence within theworld economy, the developments within these integrations since their foundations andalso their place in the world economy.The third, also the last part of this thesis examines the integrations that Turkey is amember of and those with which it has important economic relations.