Euitrel: The EU’s Inter-regional and Trans-Regional Relations

Abstract

The Module project on “The EU’s Inter-regional and Trans-regional Relations” is called as EUITREL. EUITREL’s central theme is to examine the impacts of EU’s inter-regional and trans-regional relations on world politics by studying and teaching the subject. The rationale behind this project is that we are currently witnessing a transition from the classical Westphalian world order to a world order where regions – next to states – play a central role and where processes of regional integration increasingly shape international relations. This transition is linked to a series of transformations in the nature and scope of regional integration processes. After a first generation of regional integration that focused primarily upon trade and regional integration, a second generation – often referred to as ‘new regionalism’ – broadened regional integration to internal policies and regulations. Today, a third generation of regionalism is emerging that emphasizes the role of regions as global actors. However, there are very few studies that compare and contrast the whole body of inter-regional (region-to region) and trans-regional (region-to-third countries) relations, and almost none in terms of special teaching course. Departing from the lacuna in the literature and the practice, this project aims: i) to teach EU’s inter-regional and trans-regional relations ii) to study inter-regional and trans-regional relations in comparative way, iii) disseminate that knowledge to other interested individuals and entities (i.e. universities, think-tanks etc.)