The European Union: A Distinctive Model of Internationalisation?

This paper argues that the European Union has developed a distinctive form of internationalisation which represents a form of deep regionalism. The EU represents deep regionalism, in contrast to other regionalisms because of its scope, level of institutionalisation and normative underpinnings. Part two of the paper analyses the characteristics of political and economic order emerging in the Union. Four aspects of the Union are analysed: loosely coupled collective governance, market integration, polity building and the international role of the Union.