GEOGRAPHIC AND NON-GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS
While regions are most defined in terms of geographic proximity, it is equally possible to opt for a non-geographic definition. For instance, "currency" region, a group of states, which rely on one member's currency and whereby these states are not necessarily located in close proximity. 
If we take a closer look at the geographical contiguousness of some of the formal regions (Andean Group; APEC; ANZCERTA; ASEAN; CACM; CARICOM; EU; MERCOSUR; NAFTA; SAARC; SACU; SADC), then almost all the regions pass the geographical test (see the Regional Integration Information System) The exceptions include the EU, SADC, APEC and ANZERTA. For instance, Mauritius is a member of SADC, but is separated from the others by both sea and a non-member country. APEC stretches from the west coast of Malaysia to the east coast of the USA, and is as outstretched as the WTO. Geography does not identify which country should be included in a region. Thus, geography is at best an indicator, a sort of starting point.
But, as Katzenstein formulated: "Regional designations are no more "real" in terms of geography than they are "natural" in terms of culture". For instance, if we talk about the "West", it encompasses now Western Europe, the US, Canada, Australia, and Japan. The "Islamic world" is by no means limited to the Middle East, but stretches from Indonesia to Nigeria and Northern Africa. Thus, as products of culture and economics, history and politics, geographically defined regions change over time.
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