This chapter aims at exploring how normative beliefs and interests inform inter-state relations and, thereby, the law of regional economic community. In so doing, this chapter will provide the basis for the key claim of this book – that is, that the idea of prosperity underpinning RTAs in the Global South as they currently exist is more of a mirage than reality. Trade has undoubtedly been crucial to economic prosperity throughout history. However, simply creating ambitious trade rules with neighbouring states is not enough; without robust institutions to implement these rules, economic benefits remain largely theoretical and mythical. This is so because codifying ambitious rules without strong institutions that will engender implementation of those rules is a proposition without concreteness that is grounded on utopian hopes. This chapter zeroes in on the idea that by focusing only on trade rule codifications, the architects of RTAs in the Global South may be constraining their approach on how they envisage the notion of prosperity. Thus, accordingly, both normative beliefs and interests are indispensable for any RTA that can generate meaningful prosperity.