Globalization, regional integration and the EU

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This paper shows that globalization is neither the modern threat to civilized societies, nor is it a development that states may simply avoid. In fact, globalization is the continuation of international relations after the East West conflict. Nevertheless, things have changed. While states assigned themselves to one or the other of only two blocs in former times, the aims and opportunities of assignments have become manifold. In the competition of systems (Deutscher Bundestag 2002: 51) between West and East, the ideal of a liberal democracy seems to have won. This goes along with the fact that most recent regional efforts aim at economic liberalization, while political integration is at best a long term goal. Regional integration very often aims at facilitating trade in a region (Laursen 1999: 67). This fosters prosperity and may also help to overcome intra-regional conflicts