Dilip K. Das examines whether regionalism has a rightful place in a rapidly globalizing world economy. The role of RIAs in the global trading system is explored as well as their role in promoting economic development, their welfare implications and whether they adversely affect the global trading system. The principal foci of the book include the impact of RIAs' market access provisions and trade regulatory functions on international trade relations. Academics, researchers, and students in the areas of economics, international political economy, political science, international relations, regionalism, and business will find this timely volume of great interest.