The rise and fall of the Baltic Sea Region?: The economic and political underpinnings of a northern European macroregion, 1990-2015
2017 (engelsk)Konferansepaper, Oral presentation only (Fagfellevurdert)
Abstract [en]
It has been suggested that regionalism is defined “as an economic process whereby economic flows grow more rapidly among a given group of states [in the same region] than between these states and those located elsewhere”. In this paper we approach the economic underpinnings for the Baltic Sea Region by analysing the developments with regard to trade and investment in the quarter of a century that has passed since the fall of the communist regimes that divided the European continent At the same time we look into the political developments that brought the 2009 adoption of the European Union’s first macroregional strategy, the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. The strategy was a symbolic second milestone with regard to the political endeavours to reintegrate the continent; the first being the 2004 enlargement. Having transformed the Baltic Sea from a ‘Mare Dividum’ to a European ‘Mare Nostrum’ was indeed also a sign of the success of such integrative political processes.
However, it may also be argued that the perceived need for a specific strategy in order to further and deepen the integration and reduce the economic gaps within the European Union gives an indication that there was more to be wished for with regard to this region. Further, more recent political developments in Europe as such as well as the constituent countries of this macroregion has cast some doubts on the future. In this paper we ask ourselves whether developments with regard to investments and trade are in congruence with the notion of the building of one integrated region; does it make economic sense to talk about a Baltic Sea Region or is the eastwest divide still present? For example, to what extent have the developments with regard to foreign direct investments proved sustainable? What sectors are leading the way and which are lagging? What divisions remain to be tackled? These are some of the questions that this paper attempts to address based upon a thorough analysis of the existing sources with regard to foreign direct investment and trade flows. In addition, in a concluding section, we open up an analysis on whether recent political development risk nullifying the progress made on the economic arena – or whether Brexit and connected developments are actually reinforcing the European macroregional agenda?
sted, utgiver, år, opplag, sider
2017.
HSV kategori
Forskningsprogram
Östersjö- och Östeuropaforskning
Identifikatorer
URN: urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-32764Lokal ID: 1303/42/2009OAI: oai:DiVA.org:sh-32764DiVA, id: diva2:1108011
Konferanse
42nd Annual Economic and Business History Society Conference, Oklahoma City, USA, May 25-27, 2017.
Ingår i projekt
Understanding the Long Arc of Financial Crises in the Baltic and Nordic Region. Comparing Causes, Management and Consequences of Financial Crises in a Region, The Foundation for Baltic and East European StudiesMarkets & Regions - A project on region building and the long-term sustainability and potential integrative effects of capital mobility and investment in the Baltic Sea Region, The Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies
Forskningsfinansiär
The Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies, 44/2013The Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies, A066-20092017-06-122017-06-122021-04-27bibliografisk kontrollert