Atypical Integration Process under the Global Crisis

• Author: Romeo Victor Ionescu
• Position: Professor, PhD, Danubius University of Galati, Faculty of Economic Sciences, Romania
• Pages: 512-520

European Integration - Realities and Perspectives 2012

512

Atypical Integration Process under the Global Crisis

Victor Romeo Ionescu

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Abstract: The paper is focused on the idea of a new approach on the integration process under the pr esent

global crisis. This is why the analyse tr ies to present „new” integration organisations which are made in order

to face the new socio-economic challenges. The whole theoretical approach is based on the latest important

specific researches in the world. A distinct part of the paper deals with a case study connected to BRIC. The

main conclusion of the pa per is not optimistic. The world economy is not able to f ace the crisis and the

solutions have to be found at individual level. Moreover the world economy is close to a more destructive

war: the economic war for survive.

Keywords:

sectoral integration; regional integration; globalization; regional integration forecast

JEL Classification: R11; R12; R13.

1. Introduction

We cannot deny that humanity is on the verge of significant changes, unprecedented in its history.

From the economic point of view, things are far from being put in a normal path. If in the second half

of the twentieth century, humanity has been protected from large-scale military conflict, the first

decade of the new millennium marked the onset of a devastating global war: the war for economic

survival.

All states participate to the fierce battle in which any actions are allowed. The myth of the global

economy, the global solutions and the adage "think globally, act locally" depend on fiction, nowadays.

The crisis generalised in 2008 was the breakpoint which demonstrated that globalisation was a world

wrong approach. The idea of globalisation is based on one of the most important characteristic of the

human being: the need to stay together in order to protect and to develop better. During the last two

centuries, globalisation was used by a minority in order to lead the majority at global level.

Globalisation supported interesting concepts as “race to the bottom”, which became a key element for

the global disparities’ increase.

The same globalisation succeeded in creating a theoretical battle between regionalism and

globalisation. Globalisation needs instruments in order to generate, develop or destroy specific

economic mechanisms. We are not able to imagine the existence of IMF, World Bank, WTO without

conflicts, economic, social and political crisis. These international institutions were able to eliminate

one of the basic elements of the economics: the impossibility to make experiences on people using the

economic instruments! There are enough viable integration projects which are implemented under

other criteria than geographical proximity and common interests. These projects cover the sectoral

integration.

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Professor, PhD, Danubius University of Galati, Faculty of Economic Sciences, R omania, Address: 3 Galati Blvd, Ga lati,

Romania, tel: +40372 361 102, fax: +40372 361 290, Corresponding author: romeo.v.ionescu@univ-danubius.ro