Article

Safeguarding the promise of integration: Regional leaders and coup deterrence

Publication Date

January 2023

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Regions & Cohesion

Volume

13

Issue

1

Abstract

We posit that having an economically preponderant member state in a regional integration organization (RIO) helps prevent and defeat coups within member states, particularly in organizations with no formal prohibition against irregular government change. The economic promises of integration require political stability between and within member states. Previous research demonstrates that economically preponderant states, acting as regional leaders, are instrumental in creating and developing RIOs. We, therefore, argue that RIO leaders’ intrinsic and instrumental interests motivate them to promote political stability within member states in order to safeguard regional integration's promised economic benefits. An examination from 1945–2016 of 40 RIOs around the world demonstrates that the economic asymmetry does reduce coup chance, more so when commitments to domestic political stability are not treaty obligated.

First Page

1

Last Page

22

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS