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47 J. Common Mkt. Stud. 1 (2009)

handle is hein.journals/jcmks47 and id is 1 raw text is: JCMS 2009 Volume 47. Number 1. pp. 1-24 NAFTA-ization: Regionalization and Domestic Political Adjustment in the North American Economic Area MARK ASPINWALL University of Edinburgh Abstract Europeanization is an example of initial bargains between states leading to ongoing political adjustment within the states. In this article I apply the concept to NAFTA and look at two of its member states, finding that despite the low level of institutional- ization, NAFTA has set in motion new forms of political organization and behaviour, and new demands for political action. This is especially marked in Mexico, and in certain sectors. It is also clearly visible in the changing patterns of cross-border bureaucratic communication. The main conclusions are that: (1) even in a lightly institutionalized regional trade agreement, the institutional, legal and civil society capacity of less-developed members is strengthened; (2) despite the absence of a formal process of policy or institutional development and the lack of legislative instruments, NAFTA has begun a hidden process of domestic adjustment in technical and specialized areas; and (3) like the EU, pressures to expand and strengthen NAFTA have emerged as a result of the initial agreement as well as extraneous factors. These conclusions may offer lessons to the study and practice of regional organizations elsewhere. Introduction The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is the result of con- tentious negotiations between the US, Canada and Mexico which began in C 2008 The Author(s) Journal compilation C 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford OX4 2DQ, UK and 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148, USA

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