EUROPEAN UNION AND THE CHALLENGES OF GLOBALIZATION
Florin Bonciu
Abstract
One may say that the European Union is a success story: it is growing and in 2004 it
witnessed the most significant enlargement in its history up to now – 10 new countries have become members;two other new countries – Romania and Bulgaria – are ready to join the Union. Beyond these positive and encouraging facts the European Union seems to be confronted with a weakness with no self-evident cause, with an erosion of its future position the mood of the European Union is characterized by dualism and the balance seems to be condemned to instability in the long run. The cause responsible for this situation is globalization which substantially changes the rules of the game: in a nutshell, in the globalized context the new technologies enable that everything can be produced everywhere and everybody can compete with everybody.
Keywords: European Union, globalization, protectionism, enlargement
TOWARDS THE NEW EUROPE: SOME REFLECTIONS ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF “EASTERN” ENLARGEMENT(S)
Andras Inotai
Abstract
For several reasons, the "Eastern" enlargement of the European Union can be considered unique. However, the most important factors of this enlargement process are not just those that have generally been emphasized in the "old" member countries and that, unfortunately and absolutely unjustified, in the last period, happened to become part of the populist arguments put forward not only by smaller status-quo-oriented groups but by "responsible" politicians of several EU countries alike. This paper tries to identify some of the strategic changes Europe in general, and the European integration in particular, has to face not only as a result of the ongoing enlargement process but, more importantly, as participant and active player in the globalizing economy.
Keywords: European Union, eastern enlargement, balance of power, globalizing economy
THE ENLARGEMENT OF EUROPEAN UNION AND THE ROMANIAN CAPITAL MARKET
George Ionescu
Abstract
For several reasons, the "Eastern" enlargement of the European Union can be considered unique. However, the most important factors of this enlargement process are not just those that have generally been emphasized in the "old" member countries and that, unfortunately and absolutely unjustified, in the last period, happened to become part of the populist arguments put forward not only by smaller status-quo-oriented groups but by "responsible" politicians of several EU countries alike. This paper tries to identify some of the strategic changes Europe in general, and the European integration in particular, has to face not only as a result of the ongoing enlargement process but, more importantly, as participant and active player in the globalizing economy.
Keywords: European Union, eastern enlargement, balance of power, globalizing economy
REFLECTIONS ON EUROPEAN UNION'S OPENING PROCESS TO THE REGIONAL AND GLOBAL SCALE
Marcel Moldoveanu
Abstract
In the context of deep interdependence between globalization and regionalization, the European Union is objectively determined to promote an offensive strategy, through
viable ways of intensification of cooperation with the other geoeconomic and strategic areas of the world: American (from the North-American Free Trade Agreement to Latin America), Asia-Pacific, former Soviet, Africa and Middle East In a multipolar world, that will bring into the first line of international relations new big actors of regional and universal vocation (China, Rusia, Brasil, India), the European Union will play an extensive role in participating at the geostrategic, regional and global equilibrium, through promotion of an „open diplomacy" that will allow.
Keywords: European Union, world evolution, globalization, regionalization
WILL THE ANTI-GLOBALIZATION MOVEMENT SAVE US FROM THE GLOBALIZATION DEMON?
Adriana Popescu and Sorina Costache
Abstract
Today, anybody is free to protest against anything they please: politics, fashion, the
latest movie, education, globalization…. Globalization, a relatively new word in our vocabulary, a word so new that the first versions of Microsoft Word do not even recongnise, is a world-wide phenomenon many agree with while some strongly criticize.
Some of these protests end up as quite big social issues, like the demonstrations. against the 6th WTO Ministerial Conference in December of 2005, others in blood-baths and mass arrests, as many of us witnessed the “Battle of Seattle”. In this article we aim to underline some of the major aspects of the anti-globalization movement, a social movement sustained by those who, understanding more or less this so-called new world-order, have chosen to fight against it.
Keywords: anti-globalization, capitalism, terrorism, commercial boycotts
CLUSTERS, INDUSTRIAL POLICY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP: A CRITICAL VIEW
Bogdan Glăvan
Abstract
In the last decades, more and more economists have advanced the idea that significant obstacles impeding economic growth (especially in less developed regions) consist
in different market failures, which prevent entrepreneurs from taking the necessary actions to exploit profit opportunities. This paper intends to provide a refutation of the idea that coordination failures as manifested in the inability of clusters to emerge can serve as a ground for government intervention. Porter’s theory of clusters is shown to be irrelevant and inconsistent on its own terms.
Keywords: clusters, industrial policy, entrepreneurship, coordination
THE SPREAD OF ECONOMIC THEOLOGY: THE FLAT TAX IN ROMANIA
Anthony J. Evans
Abstract
This paper is a case study that traces the spread of the flat tax, and analyzes the conditions that are necessary for its adoption. Of most concern are the early adopters, and since by definition there are only a few, empirical cases must be compared to hypothetical cases. By providing the factual history of the flat tax, with biographical accounts of key players, a conjectural history can thus be formed to establish which of the many variables were especially important. I will argue that faith – an underlying belief somewhat disjointed from certain knowledge – was essential.
Keywords: economic theology, flat tax, epistemic communities, Romanian economy
THE CHALLENGES OF THE WORLD ECONOMY COHESION FACTOR – THE INTERNET: WORLD REORGANIZATION, VULNERABILITIES, DISCREPANCIES AND POWER DISCERNMENT
Costel Iliuţă Negricea
Abstract
Times are changing continuously. The changes are in continues acceleration, and the
way in which we are able to greet them and to adapt will become an important issue for any organizational structure. No organizations, economical or not, can afford not to be
interested for the challenges of new economy. Internet has achieved a big advance and that, for this reason, there are implications in any country and any (regional or global) economic activity. The Internet is the binder of the actual economy, it is the only process able to transform, invent or reinvent communications of all entities. The Internet and E-commerce are fundamentally changing all aspects of the global economy.
Keywords: world economy, internet, vulnerabilities, discrepancies
THE ROMANIAN REFORM OF EDUCATION – MOMENTS OF THE POST-COMMUNIST TRANSITION
Olivia Ştefănescu
Abstract
The reform of education, from Romania, began from the first moments of the postcommunist transition. It was marked by three limits: the reactive character, the changes in education being the consequence and not one of the driving forces of the political, economical or social reform; the dependence of external financing, especially in investment that led to the precipitated import of institutions, at doubts and discontinuities, at incoherence at the level of educational politics; limitation at formal education, at school and university, ignoring the important fields of permanent education as the adults education, the education of the persons with special needs, early education, education of Gipsy population, etc neglecting the early evolution of the professional field.
Keywords: reform of education, education policy, Bologna process, superior education
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