Bringing together a large group of researchers from a variety of international backgrounds, this year’s conference on the diffusion of regional integration was dynamic and informative. With the submission of over 20 papers and the participation of over 40 researchers, the topics discussed with regard to regional integration and the questions to be addressed where far-reaching.

Six panels were held as platforms for discussion of the papers among the participants. Some areas of interests addressed within the panels included the study of the European Union as an exporter of integration models, cross regional convergence and divergence, and a roundtable on the theoretical and methodological challenges of comparative regionalism, which was chaired by Tanja Börzel, a director of the Kolleg-Forscher Gruppe. The conference brought together leading researchers in this field and allowed them to exchange information face-to-face. The participants not only took advantage of this opportunity during the formal discussion of the panels, but also during the coffee and lunch breaks.

       

The conference was ended by a concluding discussion, which was lead by two directors of the Kolleg-Forscher Gruppe, Thomas Risse and Tanja Börzel. The participants agreed that the final discussion really helped to bring the conference to a smooth end, summing up the topics address, the analytical problems confronted, and questions that were still left open to further research at the end of the conference. In all, the conference was a success and we are looking forward to hosting this following conference in the coming year.

Please consider the conference Call for Papers and the conference programme for further informations.