Project Description

This project analyzes various forms of fragmentation within the peace and security regime complexes of the Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America. Specifically, it will conduct three case studies to examine how these regime complexes exhibit four types of fragmentation: institutional (both formal and informal), norms, discourses, and actors. Each case study will utilize qualitative text, discourse, and network analysis, drawing on data gathered through archival research and semi-structured interviews. As a second step, the project will perform comparative case studies to analyze the similarities and differences in the types and levels of fragmentation across the three regime complexes. 

This research aims to enrich the concepts of International Relations (IR) regarding regime complexity by expanding fragmentation indicators beyond just formal institutional designs to include informal and ideational aspects. It will capture regional nuances that are often overlooked in the study of regime complexity and contextualize the analysis to apply to peace and security cooperation in the Global South. In doing so, the project seeks to balance the current regional complexity analyses that are primarily informed by European integration, formal structures, and economic, health, and environmental cooperation. Finally, by identifying gaps between actors, the project aims to highlight areas where greater collaboration for peace and security can occur, benefiting policy officials in their efforts to foster greater integration in this sector.

Timeline: 2025-2026

Funding organisation: Swiss National Science Foundation

Principal Investigator: Jamie Pring