Professor of Political Science
European University Institute, Florence, Italy and
University of Aberdeen, Scotland

In the 1990's the states of Western Europe face twin challenges, from above in the shape of globalization, and from below in the form of new regionalist movements. The paper will argue that territorial politics have always been an important feature of the European state but that current trends are re-shaping the meaning of political space and encouraging new forms of political mobilization. The new regionalism is no longer contained within the nation-state so that regions must face the global market and an integrating Europe directly. Purely functionalist explanations of regionalism, reducing it to a response to economic change, are inadequate. Regionalism is a complex phenomenon, spanning culture, economics, politics and policy. The effect of global change is mediated by local cultures, institutions and region-building projects. Equipping regions to face the global challenge requires institution-building, social mobilization and leadership. The argument is illustrated by cases of region-building in Europe, exploring the varied patterns of region-building and their success.