The Problem of Comparison in Comparative Regionalism
-
Author De Lombaerde, Philippe
Söderbaum, Fredrik
Van Langenhove, Luk
Baert, FrancisTitle The Problem of Comparison in Comparative Regionalism Appearing in Review of International Studies Volume 36 Issue No. 3 Publication Date 2010 Place of Publication Cambridge Publisher Cambridge Journals Start page 731 End page 753 Language EN Abstract There is virtually no systematic debate on the fundamentals of comparative research in the study of international regionalism. The field of research is very fragmented and there is a lack of interaction between EU studies and regionalism in the rest of the world. There is also a lack of communication between scholars from various theoretical standpoints and research traditions. Related to these two divides is the tension between idiographic and nomothetic methodologies. The purpose of this article is to contribute to the largely neglected debate on how to conduct and address three interrelated problems: a conceptual, a theoretical and a methodological one. Our claim is that the future of comparative regionalism should be one where old divides are bridged. This requires a combination of conceptual rigor, theoretical eclecticism, and sounder empirical research methods.
Copyright Holder British International Studies Association Copyright Year 2010 Copyright type All Rights Reserved DOI 10.1017/S0260210510000707 -
Citation counts Search Google Scholar Access Statistics: 291 Abstract Views - Detailed Statistics Created: Fri, 15 Feb 2019, 13:43:35 JST