ABSTRACT
Globalization of all evokes a scale, meaning world-wide or global, but the word also means ‘all-embracing’ or ‘general’. A particularly interesting case of a marginal region in the age of globalization is furnished by Iceland. Marginality is the situation of an area that is located ‘at the margin’ of a system as regards its socio-economic features. Investigating into marginality, marginalization and marginal regions is therefore a task continuing well into the 21st century. Iceland is marginal because it lies at the periphery of the international system, but this is to its advantage, given the lack of powerful neighbours. The area, which was thought of as a centre, has become marginalized for several reasons: too expensive, unpleasant architecture, bad link to the rest of London. Marginal regions of Spain and Portugal are particularly favoured by foreign immigrants, i.e. Malaga province in Spain and the Algarve in Portugal – areas with a weak economic potential but a good climate.
