A Europe of the Regions?

What role will the 'regions' play in the emerging governance structures of the European Union? This free course, A Europe of the Regions?, examines the rise of the regions and regionalism in Western Europe. You will look at the possible development pathways for Europe: will it become a federal super-state or a decentralised 'Europe of the Regions'?

• Introduction
• Learning outcomes
• 1 Background and context to Europe's regions
• 1 Background and context to Europe's regions
• 1.1 The debates
• 1.2 What does this course cover?
• 2 The diversity of regions and regionalisms
• 2 The diversity of regions and regionalisms
• 2.1 What do we mean by ‘region’ and ‘regionalism’?
• 2.2 Diversity between states
• 2.3 Diversity within states
• 2.4 Summary
• 3 The growth of regionalism and its causes
• 3 The growth of regionalism and its causes
• 3.1 Introduction
• 3.2 Growth of Europe's regions
• 3.3 Reasons for – and effects of – nationalisms and federalisation
• 3.4 The trend towards increased regionalism
• 3.5 Globalisation
• 3.6 Summary
• 4 Regionalism in the EU
• 4 Regionalism in the EU
• 4.1 Introduction
• 4.2 EU regional policies
• 4.3 Regional networking and alliances
• 4.4 The Committee of the Regions
• 4.5 Summary
• 5 Toward a ‘Europe of the Regions’?
• 5 Toward a ‘Europe of the Regions’?
• 5.1 Introduction
• 5.2 The regionalism project
• 5.3 Origins of the regionalist project
• 5.4 Weaknesses of the regionalist project
• 5.5 Summary
• 6 Has the future already arrived?
• 6 Has the future already arrived?
• 6.1 The complexities of a multifaceted Europe
• 6.2 Looking forward
• 6.3 Summary
• 7 Conclusion
• 7.1 Summary of Sections 1–3
• 7.2 Summary of Sections 4–6
• References
• Acknowledgements