De la “Europa de las Regiones” a la Europa con las Regiones

L’autor comença per analitzar el procés de transformació que està passant l’Estat-nació a mans del triple fenomen de la globalització, l’europeïtzació i la regionalització. Aquest darrer, a més, es veu clarament afectat pels dos primers i s’ha generat un ressorgiment del neoregionalisme. Pel que fa a la incidència de la Unió Europea sobre les regions, l’autor nega que s’estiguin erosionant les identitats etnoterritorials i considera, per contra, que davant de la manca d’un demos europeu la clau del procés de construcció europea rau en saber combinar les molt diverses identitats que conviuen a Europa. Des del punt de vista de les regions, d’altra banda, l’autor posa de manifest les seves diferències d’interessos i el seu elevat nombre, factors que, entre altres, impedeixen que puguin ser els actors principals de la construcció europea, però no que hi contribueixin. No es tracta tant de parlar d’una Europa de les regions com d’una Europa amb les regions, les quals tindran el seu espai com el tenen els estats, que seguiran essent els principals protagonistes. L’autor, finalment, analitza el paper dels partits nacionalistes subestatals, els límits del Comitè de les Regions com a catalitzador dels interessos regionals, i el pes i les estratègies de les regions a Alemanya, Bèlgica i el Regne Unit.In this article the author begins by analyzing the process of transformation taking place within state-nations at the hands of the triple phenomenon of globalisation, Europeisation and regionalisation. The latter, furthermore, is clearly being affected by the first two and has generated a resurgence of neo-regionalism. In regard to the influence of the European Union on the regions, the author denies that it is eroding ethnic-territorial identities and considers, on the other hand, that in view of the lack of a European demos, the key to the process of the construction of Europe lies in knowing how to combine the extremely varied identities living together in Europe. From the point of view of the regions, on the other hand, the author points out the enormous number of different interests, factors which, among others, prevent them from being the main forces behind the construction of Europe, but not from making a contribution. It is not so much to speak of a Europe of regions as of a Europe with regions, all of which have their own space, as do the states, who will continue to be the main decision-makers. The author, finally, analyzes the role of sub-state nationalist parties, the limits of the Committee of the Regions as a catalyst for regional interests, and the weight and strategies of regions in Germany, Belgium and the United Kingdom.1. La teoría de la “Europa de las regiones”. – 2. Estrategias regionalistas de los actores políticos. – 3. Los límites del Comité de las Regiones. – 4. Perspectiva comparada. – 5. Una nota conclusiva. – Bibliografía citada

Russia and the CIS: Relations of Foreign or Domestic Policy?

What role does the Community of Independent States (CIS) currently have in the area that was once called the Soviet Union, in particular in Russia’s so-called “near abroad”? The CIS was, to start with, little more than a liquidating committee of Soviet inheritance.This hybrid entity may be defined as a specific type of union among officially sovereign States that have few decision making mechanisms. For Russia its policy towards the “near abroad” is a priority given this country’s geostrategic interests in this area. The paperanalyzes some of the economic imperatives and the military’s participation in peacekeeping missions that have favored, up to a point, a “russification” of the CIS