Essay 16: From Empire to Cooperation: Transregional Organisations Among Former Metropolises and Colonies and Their Cultural Justifications

Abstract Classical integration theory, rooted in European and Eurocentric perspectives, has faced criticism since its inception, with alternative frameworks emerging to address its shortcomings and expand regionalism studies. However, a specific type of regionalism, deeply intertwined with Eurocentrism, remains marginalised in International Relations and frequently neglected in the studies of contemporary regionalism. These are international organisations which emerged from former colonial relationships between European countries and their ex-colonies. Examples include the Commonwealth, the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB), and the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP).