This thesis is an examination of the forces behind the increasing levels of intra-regional economic integration in East Asia. Economic integration in Europe, and to a lesser extent in North America, was preceded by an adaptation of political agreements and institutions which, in turn, largely determined the further pattern of economic regionalisation. Economic integration in East Asia did not experience such a prerequisite settlement. East Asian economic integration, unlike economic integration in other regions around the globe, is being driven by the growing interdependence between transnational corporations (TNCs), and in many instances, small-medium sized enterprises (SMEs), strategies, and regional governments policies. / The thesis examines the process of intra-regional economic integration in East Asia from three levels of analysis: state-state, state-firm and firm-firm. The discussion seeks to go beyond the “state versus market” analysis of regional economic integration and aims to present an ‘alternative’ framework of analysis by discussing the dynamics of the growing relationship between states and firms. In order to ‘capture’ this relationship, the dissertation examines the interplay between the forces of globalisation and regionalisation. / The findings of the three case studies, together with the analysis of globalisation and regionalisation, have demonstrated the need to move beyond the state versus market dichotomy. East Asian economic integration is occurring at three levels: state-state, state-firm and firm-firm. The forces behind East Asian economic integration include cooperation and competition between states, bargaining between states and firms, and the activities of TNCs and SMEs. Changes in the global economy affect the pattern of economic integration at the regional level. Understanding how these changes impact on state policies and firm strategies is vital to analysing regional economic integration.

Inaug.-Diss.--Cologne. / Vita. Bibliography: p. 199-218.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, August 1999. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-126).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Colorado, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 234-243).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Santa Cruz, 2000. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 124-132).

Thesis (Ph. D. (Public Admin.))--University of Pretoria, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2005. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file viewed on (July 13, 2006) Includes bibliographical references.

Africa’s international marginalization is preponderantly conceptualized through world systems approaches, particularly structural dependency. Consequently, the region’s socioeconomic quagmire, characterized by economic stagnation, abysmal poverty, inequality and foreign dependency, is often attributed to its colonial heritage. Particular reference is made to the small size of the African state and its structural specialization in primary production. Collective self reliance based on mutual interdependence (regional integration) thus suggests itself as a logical way to overcome the structural constraints imposed by the small size of the state, while at the same time representing a viable alternative to asymmetric trade with developed countries. It is within the context of this theoretical framework that this study critiques the predisposition of the regional body in Southern Africa, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), towards a trade biased approach to regional integration (market integration). This critique is based on theoretical and empirical findings showing that trade led strategies are primarily suited for developed countries with robust manufacturing industries and complimentary production structures. Countries in Southern Africa are however characterized by a near absence of manufacturing industries, are at different levels of development and show low levels of trade complementarities. This study therefore concludes that market integration is an inappropriate strategy for regional integration in Southern Africa and in the process suggests development integration – a political economy approach, as an alternative.

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