Contemporary Centres of Power and Regional Organisations
What the domain tests
This domain tests the EU, ASEAN, BRICS, SAARC and other regional bodies as centres of power and cooperation, including their institutions, decision rules and limits.
Core rules and concepts
- The European Union grew from post-war economic cooperation; the Maastricht Treaty (1992) created the EU and paved the way for the euro. After Brexit it has 27 members.
- EU institutions include the European Commission, Council, Parliament and Court of Justice; it is not a single federal state.
- ASEAN was founded in 1967 at Bangkok; it has ten members and works through consensus, non-interference and informal dialogue, often called the ASEAN Way.
- BRICS began as a grouping of Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining in 2010; it is not a military alliance. Its New Development Bank was set up in 2014.
- SAARC was founded in 1985 at Dhaka with eight South Asian members; SAFTA (2004) aims at freer trade, but India-Pakistan tensions limit it.
- The African Union (2002) and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation are other regional forums with security and economic agendas.
Worked example
Why does ASEAN prefer consensus? Reasoning: its members differ in regime type, size and religion; majority voting could isolate states; non-interference protects sovereignty; consensus builds trust but can slow responses to crises such as Myanmar.
Traps that cost marks
- Calling the EU a superstate or a military alliance.
- Treating BRICS as a formal alliance against the West.
- Confusing SAARC with BIMSTEC, which excludes Pakistan and Afghanistan.
- Assuming regional organisations always resolve disputes; they often manage them.