The Debate

The regional model, which comprehends various forms and ends, is nowadays undergoing a deep and peculiar reformulation. Regionalisations have from time immemorial constituted one of the major modes for the development of geopolitical exchanges and alliances between territories and communities. At a time when these exchanges and alliances take place in “globalised” patterns, and when the role of traditional Nation-Sates appears to be minimized, there is a real stake in “regional choice” in terms of political, economic, social and cultural strategy. This creates a contradictory and profuse debate, the main arguments of which focus on two interpretations stating, i) that the dynamics of “regionalisation” are inherent to ongoing globalisations or, ii) that they provide a response (whether offensive or defensive) to the latter.