The Ascent of Regional Integration

Globalization is one of the major phenomena challenging the existing world order based upon sovereign states. Societies are more and more confronted with global issues linked to international trade and development, environment and security concerns. One of the main questions is at which level of governance these issues should be tackled. On the one hand, states are still the main actors in the international arena but they are limited in the ways they can act to solve problems of trans-national nature. International treaties and regulations both limit the sovereignty of states and regulate cross-border and inter-state processes. However, this only happens after states having accepted such regulations by ratifying treaties. So, the paradox is that the ultimate policy authority of tackling global issues and problems still belongs to States, while the origin of the problems and solutions is located at trans-national level. On the other hand, international organizations with global vocation, such as the United Nations and the Bretton Woods Institutions, are faced today with structural problems and reforming attempts, which sometimes weaken their prompt reaction...