A presente tese se propõe a responder a seguinte questão: É correto afirmar que o regionalismo desenvolvimentista sul-americano, implantado ao longo do século XX, e o novo regionalismo desenvolvimentista, implantado ao longo da primeira década do século XXI, são compatíveis com as regras do sistema multilateral de comércio? Em outras palavras, as organizações de integração regional da América do Sul têm balizado as suas políticas desenvolvimentistas no policy space decorrente das prerrogativas jurídicas para o desenvolvimento do sistema multilateral de comércio? Para tratar o refrido tema, parte-se da premissa que os países da América do Sul historicamente sempre fizeram uso das prerrogativas jurídicas para o desenvolvimento, desde que tais surgiram no sistema multilateral de comércio, e possibilitaram a implantação de políticas no plano nacional e regional. Ao longo da tese, é analisada, desde uma perspectiva jurídica, a compatibilidade com as regras do sistema multilateral de comércio dos principais aspectos desenvolvimentistas das organizações de integração regional criadas na América do Sul, desde a ALALC, em 1960, até a UNASUL, em 2008. Concluiu-se que tanto o velho quanto o novo regionalismo desenvolvimentista da América do Sul foram levados adiante em concordância com o direito internacional do comércio, seja ao longo do período GATT, seja ao longo do período OMC. Mesmo com a redução de policy space decorrente da entrada em vigor dos acordos da OMC, a América do Sul vislumbrou manter um relativamente alto nível de espaço político (policy space) para a criação de políticas públicas de desenvolvimento. Atualmente, percebe-se uma tendência das organizações de integração regional da América do Sul, especialmente da UNASUL e do MERCOSUL, de levar adiante políticas públicas em torno de temas não-regulados pela OMC, o que caracterizaria uma estratégia OMC-extra. O novo regionalismo desenvolvimentista sul-americano está finalmente se constituindo para além do policy space do sistema multilateral de comércio, o que, por não configurar, a priori, uma incompatibilidade dos processos de integração com as regras da OMC, contribui para fortalecer o primado do direito internacional na América do Sul. / This thesis aims to answer the following question: Can it be said that the South American developmental regionalism, carried out throughout the twentieth century, and the new developmental regionalism, implemented during the first decade of this century, are compatible with the rules of multilateral trading system? In other words, have the regional integration organizations in South America based their developmental policies in the policy space resulting from the developmental legal prerogatives of the multilateral trading system? To treat such theme, we start from the premise that the countries of South America have historically made use of legal rights for development, since these arose in the multilateral trading system, and enabled the implementation of policies at the national and regional levels. From a legal perspective, the thesis analyses the compatibility of the main developmental aspects of regional integration organizations created in South America since the LAFTA in 1960 to UNASUR, in 2008 with the rules of the multilateral trading system. It was concluded that both the old and the new developmental regionalism in South America were brought forward in accordance with international trade law, either through the GATT period, either during the WTO period. Even with the reduction of policy space resulting from the entry into force of the WTO agreements, South America managed to maintain a relatively high level of policy space for the creation of developmental public policies. Currently, there is a perceived trend of regional integration organizations in South America, especially the MERCOSUR and UNASUR, to carry out public policies on topics unregulated by the WTO, which would characterize a strategy WTO-extra. The new South American developmental regionalism is finally going beyond the policy space of the multilateral trading system, which, by not setting a priori incompatibility of the integration processes with WTO rules, contributes to strengthen the rule of international law in South America.

A presente tese se propõe a responder a seguinte questão: É correto afirmar que o regionalismo desenvolvimentista sul-americano, implantado ao longo do século XX, e o novo regionalismo desenvolvimentista, implantado ao longo da primeira década do século XXI, são compatíveis com as regras do sistema multilateral de comércio? Em outras palavras, as organizações de integração regional da América do Sul têm balizado as suas políticas desenvolvimentistas no policy space decorrente das prerrogativas jurídicas para o desenvolvimento do sistema multilateral de comércio? Para tratar o refrido tema, parte-se da premissa que os países da América do Sul historicamente sempre fizeram uso das prerrogativas jurídicas para o desenvolvimento, desde que tais surgiram no sistema multilateral de comércio, e possibilitaram a implantação de políticas no plano nacional e regional. Ao longo da tese, é analisada, desde uma perspectiva jurídica, a compatibilidade com as regras do sistema multilateral de comércio dos principais aspectos desenvolvimentistas das organizações de integração regional criadas na América do Sul, desde a ALALC, em 1960, até a UNASUL, em 2008. Concluiu-se que tanto o velho quanto o novo regionalismo desenvolvimentista da América do Sul foram levados adiante em concordância com o direito internacional do comércio, seja ao longo do período GATT, seja ao longo do período OMC. Mesmo com a redução de policy space decorrente da entrada em vigor dos acordos da OMC, a América do Sul vislumbrou manter um relativamente alto nível de espaço político (policy space) para a criação de políticas públicas de desenvolvimento. Atualmente, percebe-se uma tendência das organizações de integração regional da América do Sul, especialmente da UNASUL e do MERCOSUL, de levar adiante políticas públicas em torno de temas não-regulados pela OMC, o que caracterizaria uma estratégia OMC-extra. O novo regionalismo desenvolvimentista sul-americano está finalmente se constituindo para além do policy space do sistema multilateral de comércio, o que, por não configurar, a priori, uma incompatibilidade dos processos de integração com as regras da OMC, contribui para fortalecer o primado do direito internacional na América do Sul. / This thesis aims to answer the following question: Can it be said that the South American developmental regionalism, carried out throughout the twentieth century, and the new developmental regionalism, implemented during the first decade of this century, are compatible with the rules of multilateral trading system? In other words, have the regional integration organizations in South America based their developmental policies in the policy space resulting from the developmental legal prerogatives of the multilateral trading system? To treat such theme, we start from the premise that the countries of South America have historically made use of legal rights for development, since these arose in the multilateral trading system, and enabled the implementation of policies at the national and regional levels. From a legal perspective, the thesis analyses the compatibility of the main developmental aspects of regional integration organizations created in South America since the LAFTA in 1960 to UNASUR, in 2008 with the rules of the multilateral trading system. It was concluded that both the old and the new developmental regionalism in South America were brought forward in accordance with international trade law, either through the GATT period, either during the WTO period. Even with the reduction of policy space resulting from the entry into force of the WTO agreements, South America managed to maintain a relatively high level of policy space for the creation of developmental public policies. Currently, there is a perceived trend of regional integration organizations in South America, especially the MERCOSUR and UNASUR, to carry out public policies on topics unregulated by the WTO, which would characterize a strategy WTO-extra. The new South American developmental regionalism is finally going beyond the policy space of the multilateral trading system, which, by not setting a priori incompatibility of the integration processes with WTO rules, contributes to strengthen the rule of international law in South America.

Regional integration gained popularity and is prioritised globally, especially in developing economies, including those on the African continent. This is based on its potential to accelerate trade, stimulate economic growth, and increase access to basic necessities and to induce a sustainable increase in economic output and improved standards of living. Regional integration in the context of developing economies is entirely implicit. Modern literature observes it as a policy option for dealing with a wide variety of issues related to politics, economic factors, and societal welfare. The SACU, existing since 1910, made several trade agreements globally. The union aims at reducing inequalities, ensuring continuous improvement in the general welfare of the population, and sustainable economic growth. Research, though, indicates that the region persistently reflects poor socio-economic conditions. This is accompanied by limited development in infrastructure, lowly skilled and experienced workforce. Primary sector activities dominate their economies, such as mining and agriculture, high levels of inequalities and poverty. Regional integration was implemented differently in several countries globally, and Africa in particular. The research noted that literature on regional integration and its implications on socio-economic development lacks, especially in the context of SACU. A deficiency was also emphasised the universal measurement of regional integration, which is not standardised. Some research employed single variables as a proxy, whilst some composite indices were also compiled and implemented, suiting the diverse setups and environments. The development measurements, therefore, cannot universally be applied attributable to context-specific concerns, prevalent in regions or countries. This study developed the SACU Regional Integration Index (SRII) because the existing indices on regional integration are limited concerning applicability. Most of the indices established in the literature were developed for specific countries and regions with diverse characteristics from those of the SACU region. In addition to a detailed literature review and closing methodological divergencies, this study evaluated the effects of regional integration on socio-economic development in the SACU countries. The objectives of the study were first, to produce the SACU Regional Integration Index. Second, the study aimed at evaluating the effect of regional integration on various socio-economic development factors listed as economic growth, investments, and the Human Development Index (HDI), inequalities and poverty. Third, the study provided policy recommendations to the socio-economic problems encountered by the SACU countries; and lastly, to implement the proposed SRII as a way of providing policymakers with the actual impacts. The study employed the principal component analysis (PCA) to construct the SRII. The Ordinary Least Squares (LSDV), fixed effects and random effects were employed to ascertain the effect of regional integration on socio-economic development in the SACU countries. The constructed SACU index comprises four dimensions. These are trade integration; productive integration; infrastructure integration; and financial and macroeconomic policies integration. The index revealed that SACU countries are dominated by trade and productive integration. Further analysis of the results indicated that collaboration on the financial and macroeconomic policies is lacking and the infrastructure dimension is lagging in the SACU region. Based on the second objective, the results indicate that regional integration is critical in improving trade openness and HDI, especially in Lesotho, Botswana, and Namibia. The effect of regional integration on real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, inequalities, and poverty reduction was realised in the long run through the interaction of all variables under study. This supported the dynamic effects posited by the dynamic theory of regional integration. It was established that growth, though, in infrastructure is insignificant compared to other dimensions of regional integration. This explains why regional integration was unsupportive concerning stimulating investments in all the economies forming the SACU region. The third objective was to proffer policy recommendations. Several practical policy recommendations emerged from this study, based on the literature findings and review. These recommendations include implementing inclusive development programmes, promotion private sector participation in economic activities, and policies, to boost production capacity in the countries in this region. Based on the fourth objective, this study further recommends SACU as a region, to integrate into the global economy. This can be conducted by participating in global production networks for manufacturing and taking advantage of emerging economies. This would diversify their export markets and their sources of finance development. SACU countries should make regional integration and trade a part of their national and sectoral development plans, ensuring coherent trade and industrial policies. They should also improve their labour, education, social protection, and safety nets. With data availability, this research can be extended to incorporate quarterly data or more years of study. Time-series methods can be applied, such as the Autoregressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) method. This will increase the sample size and the number of observations, which can improve the outcome from the statistical and econometric analysis. Future studies may also evaluate the applicability of the index constructed in this study. / Economics / D. Phil. (Economics)