*** MARIO TELÒ, LOUISE FAWCETT, FREDERIK PONJAERT (Editors): Interregionalism and the European Union. A Post-Revisionist Approach to Europe’s Place in a Changing World. Ashgate Publishing Ltd (Wey Court East, Union Road, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7PT, UK. Tel: (44-1235) 400400 – fax: 400401 – Email: book.orders@tandf.co.uk – Internet: http://www.ashgate.com ). "The Globalisation, Europe, Multilateralism Series" series. 2015, 455 pp. £30. ISBN 978-1-4724-7323-3.
This collectively written book seeks to provide an innovative and measured approach of the role played by the European Union in the increasing important area of inter regional relations. It stems from a multidisciplinary research project on global multilateral governance backed by the European Commission. It also involved eleven different universities from around much of the world. In his preface. Professor Amitav Acharya (American University de Washington DC) points out that the, "post-revisionist approach" preferred by the authors involves them rejecting the claim that the European Union is a "universal model" to be copied throughout the world despite them reaffirming, "the importance and international relevance of its innovations and practices" because the European club remains, "the most prominent and strongest champion of inter-regionalism". This US political scientist also adds that in the "multiplex world" of today, which is more complex than it has ever been, inter-regionalism is more essential than ever. This concept is, however, an over-used phrase and requires scientific clarification in light of the Union's action, which the authors seek to do throughout the book by both attempting to reconcile European and comparative studies, as well as go beyond the perceptions that provoke the different phenomena of Euro-centrism and its counterpoint, Euro-scepticism.
In their introduction, Mario Telò (the former president of the European Studies Institute at the Université libre de Bruxelles, where he teaches international relations), Louise Fawcett (Professor of International relations at the University of Oxford) and Frederik Ponjaert (researcher and senior lecturer at the ULB, KUL and Sciences Po) explain that the objective pursued in this publication by the 22 different specialists they worked with, seeks to assess to what extent the Union’s inter-regional policies have improved or hindered the drivers of regional cooperation in other parts of the world. To this end, the book is divided into different endogenous drivers of regional cooperation, namely, "cognitive and instrumental". The first part of the book, however, does clarify a number of key dimensions in the post-revisionist approach of the regionalist phenomenon. In what way should one, "understand and locate European regionalism in the wider world of regionalism and multilateralism?” Has the Union adapted its internal and external policies on the basis of its relations with other regions and, in the affirmative, how? Also, "how do other regional groupings make reference to the EU's unprecedented institutional experience?" These are some of the questions to which the authors attempt to provide some responses as part of this pre-eminent scientific evaluation. The book as a whole is obviously oriented towards a more than informed public.
The other authors also look at the de facto regional cooperation factors, such as the forces resulting from the different forms of economic integration and how they correspond to the needs of the market or trade. Their studies also involve an insight into the Southeast Asian financial crisis at the end of the 1990s, Latin America, where the Union is developing cooperation projects that possibly rival other projects in the field and finally, Africa, in light of the Economic Partnership Agreements. The following part of the book looks at the political and legal incentives that can accompany inter-regionalism as sought by the Union, such as the promotion of democracy or developing agreements in the migration arena. In this connection, the authors seek to verify whether the political dialogue in this highly sensitive field has influenced the cooperation mechanisms and legal environments in the partner regions. The answers are provided in light of the results achieved in the relationship with Asean, the Southern African Development Community and the African Union. The final chapter also involves Ramona Coman and Frederik Ponjaert gauge the influence of the Union promotion of the rule of law in the EU's central and eastern neighbourhoods. The penultimate part of the book focuses on the "cognitive" factors that help to promote regional cooperation. This also involves the authors assessing the validity of the Union's strategy seeking to ensure the respect for human rights in Asia. It subsequently sheds light on the way culture can influence the understanding of regional cooperation and highlight the way in which the Unit takes action throughout its member states in the perspective of the United Nations General Assembly. In this connection, Barbara Delcourt reveals what could emanate from a "schizophrenic" strategic positioning and "an uncertain partner for other regional projects". The final part of the book focuses on the geostrategic and geo-economic drivers and is effectively as comprehensive as the previous chapters, whilst providing the general conclusions drawn by the book's editors. Michel Theys
*** EVRIPIDIS STILIANIDIS: Thrace : l'étape suivante... Editions Minoas (34 rue Korinthou et Davaki, GR-14451 Metamorphosi. Tel: (30-210) 2711222 – fax: 2776818 – Email: info@minoas.gr – Internet: http://www.minoas.gr ). 2016, 352 pp. €18. ISBN 978-618-02-0644-9.
Due to its geopolitical importance and demographic composition, it will effectively be up to Thrace to drive the Greek economic recovery and enable the country to rediscover its role as a key regional actor. The other side of the coin would involve it becoming a major problem in the country in future years if it is neglected or mistakes are committed by the government in Athens. In this study, Professor Evripidis Stylianidis (constitutional law at the University of Hamburg), an elected MP in Thrace over a period of almost 20 years and who has also been a minister in New Democracy governments on different occasions, seeks to tackle a number of sensitive issues such as: the real legal status of the Muslim minority in Thrace; the mistakes and accomplishments of Greek policy since, "the beginning of reciprocity in the Treaty of Lausanne" up to the, "policies of positive discrimination"; the reasons for the positive surprise expressed by Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his visit to the region as Turkish Prime Minister; the role of the Turkish Consulate General in Komotiní and the "confidence" required to act as a catalyst for consolidating an "open society", as well as improving bilateral Greek-Turkish relations; the Greek economic impact on the region's development, with the demographic and political balance between Christians and Muslims as an issue of current affairs and Turkey's interventionist policy that seeks to have a "co-command over Thrace". The author also puts forward a proposal to make Thrace into an ideal region for investment, as well as strengthening its geostrategic role by using its comparative advantages such as the consolidation of the open Society and the increasing opening up of the national economy to neighbouring markets. Evripidis Stilianidis points out that Thrace, despite the enduring efforts made by his people, has always changed hands, not always due to war but also due to signing secret agreements… If and Ankara allow history to repeat itself it really could become a "bridge" between Greece and Eastern Europe. (AKa)
*** ELENI SELLA-MAZI: Bilinguisme, identité nationale et langues minoritaires. Editions Limon (2-4 rue Nikitara, GR-10678 Athens. Tel:(30-210) 3227323 – Email: ekd.limon@gmail.com). 2016, 504 pp. €38. ISBN 978-618-81984-1-8.
Eleni Sella-Mazi is a professor of general linguistics at the Faculty of Languages, Translation and Interpretation at the Ionian University. In this book, she illustrates and examines a broad range of questions associated with bilingualism and the use of minority languages, phenomena that have promoted multiculturalism, in the context of globalisation. She also provides a detailed examination of the linguistic landscape in Greece and bilingualism in the Greco-Balkan region. As part of her research and references to scientific literature, she provides clarification regarding a subject that is very often at the heart of burning contemporary questions. She subsequently manages to provide clear and precise distinctions that prevent any confusion arising because, as she points out, language is in the soul and identity of every people. She believes that bilingualism and the learning of other languages is obviously something to be cherished but on the absolute imperative condition that this is not used as an instrument for globalisation where linguistic heritage of a given people can be confiscated. An extensive bibliography also accompanies this book, which is incontestably a significant contribution to both the scientific community and the wider public. (AKa)