Power Transition Theory and the Determinants of Regional Integration Agreement Accession and Exit

James Garner Langford, University of Texas at El Paso

Abstract

While the phenomenon of regional integration has been paid substantial attention, the question of what causes states to accede to or exit from regional integration agreements (RIAs) has not. I draw from power transition theory to explain membership in RIAs, hypothesizing that states accede to an RIA when there is a high level of both power preponderance and status quo satisfaction, and exit when the levels of those variables are both low. I employ large-N quantitative analysis to test my two hypotheses. I find weak support for the hypothesis on RIA exit and offer concluding remarks on what the results might mean for the future of RIA membership given the rise of China.

Subject Area

Political science|International Relations|Statistics

Recommended Citation

Langford, James Garner, "Power Transition Theory and the Determinants of Regional Integration Agreement Accession and Exit" (2023). ETD Collection for University of Texas, El Paso. AAI30521703.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/dissertations/AAI30521703

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