Van een Wereld van Staten naar een Wereld van Regio's

Author(s): 
Publication Date: 
01 January 2007
Publisher: 
Department of Economy, Science and Innovation
Publication Place: 
Brussels
Publication Language: 
NL
Appearing in: 
EWI-Review
Issue: 
October
Pages: 
18-20
Abstract: 

We live in a world of states. Practically the entire planet is split up into sovereign territories, territories that provide political governance and confer national identity on their subjects. These states are embroiled in all manner of rivalry and disputes, sometimes territorial, often purely economic. Yet states also work together voluntarily to tackle transnational problems. This is known as multilateralism: states recognise each other as equals and try to find shared solutions to shared problems. In many cases, they agree on standards and rules of conduct under the auspices of the United Nations.