Article
Safeguarding the promise of integration: Regional leaders and coup deterrence
Regions & Cohesion
(2023)
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.
Disciplines
Publication Date
2023
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3167/reco.2023.130102
Citation Information
Taeko Hiroi and Gaspare M. Genna. "Safeguarding the promise of integration: Regional leaders and coup deterrence" Regions & Cohesion Vol. 13 Iss. 1 (2023) p. 1 - 22 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/taeko_hiroi/35/