Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book deals with the general issue of globalization as seen from the general perspective and then approaching a closer, i.e., more micro-perspective. It focuses on various policy agents that have emerged due to the process of globalization and deregulation. The book aims to the issues of the economic importance and the role of transnationals and nation blocs in the current globalization process of the world economy. It discusses more specifically issues on ‘nation state’ level are grouped as block. These include the articles by Marques and Delgado, by Sanchez-Aguilera and Majoral, and by Rusanen et al. These articles approach the issue from different points of view, but the main question taken up is that of population, migration or economic development.