ABSTRACT
Throughout the maritime literature, most studies of port systems are focused on the national level or on a single port through a case study. This classic approach should be revisited in the context of international trade reorganization, given the evolution of shipping and cargo handling technologies (the spread of containerization) and changes in the economic environment itself (role of multinational firms, declining role of states, consolidation of transnational custom unions, etc.). The regional perspective is increasingly being questioned by geographers, economists, and political scientists alike. The role of transport (by sea, land, or air) remains little explored in this context.
