1st Edition

Overcoming Fragmentation in Southeast Europe Spatial Development Trends and Integration Potential

By Panayiotis Getimis Copyright 2007
    353 Pages
    by Routledge

    353 Pages
    by Routledge

    With the expansion of the European Union, the countries of Southeast Europe have finally been brought together within one socio-political entity. The restructuring of these economies following globalization and neoliberalization has meant that this region has become much more open to geopolitical shifts and trends. While the various countries have all entered into the slow process of European integration, the historic fragmentation of this region has led to various conflicts and contradictions in the restructuring and transition of national economies. This volume provides a theoretical and comparative overview which examines the prospects for spatial cohesion in this region. With the need to handle persisting problems and conflicts from the past while coping with new economic and political structures, Southeast Europe proves to be a challenging yet fruitful testing ground for how best to overcome fragmentation and establish a long-term process of social and economic integration.

    Contents: Preface; Part 1 Introductory Overview on the Main Themes of the Book: Overcoming the fragmentation of Southeast Europe: an introductory overview of main themes, Grigoris Kafkalas. Part 2 Integration vs. Fragmentation in Southeast Europe: Forces, Structures and Trends: Integration and structural change: pre-accession experience in the regions of the European Union new member-states, George Petrakos and Dimitris Kallioras; Disintegrated (or fragmented) public administration and regional development policy in Eastern Europe, Ilona Páln ovács; Delocalization of labour intensive activities in a globalized world: can things become better for the countries of Southeast Europe?, Thanassis Kalogeressis and Lois Labrianidis; Developmental planning and territorial integration prospects in South Eastern Europe: a foresight exercise in the region of Central Macedonia, Dimitris Foutakis and Elisavet Thoidou. Part 3 Spatial Development Perspectives: Concepts, Facts and Visions: Southeast Europe within changing European geographies - tracing socio-economic disparities and potentials of integration, Peter Schön and Petra Pelster; The new generation of European sustainable development documents and strategic development schemes of Serbia and Montenegro - the problem of correspondence, Miodrag Vujosevic; Settlement patterns in Europe: elements and comparative typology, Alma Zavodnik Lamovsek; Transport infrastructure priorities and territorial cohesion prospects in SE Europe, Magda Pitsiava. Part 4 Concluding on Integration Potential: Territorial governance, institutional structures and trans-frontier cooperation prospects in South-Eastern Europe, Panayiotis Getimis and Leeda Demetropolou; Index.