Stare i nowe dylematy integracji regionalnej w kontek cie procesów globalizacji

Globalization and new regionalism are not only economic but also multidimensional and political processes. The paper's particular focus is the comparative analysis of European Union and its interrelations with the globalized economy and world politics of the post-Cold War era. Regionalism and globalization are two components of the same historical process of strengthening interdependence and weakening the state's barriers to free trade, even if there can also be conflicting tendencies. This is shown by trade blocs, strategic traders and by current asymmetries and uncertainties of global multilateralism. Consequently, the Author offers, on one hand, a theoretical framework for new regionalism and a comparative analysis of other regional organizations, bearing in mind the European experience. On the other hand, he shows the characteristics of the European Union as a global player and also its proactive relationship with other regional organizations. The open question is to what extent this can be considered a significant part of its current and potential role as a new kind of ‘civilian power’, in the uncertain world politics of the early twenty-first century.