ABSTRACT
This chapter explore some of the ramifications of this perspective, in terms of inter-relationships between the globalisation of production systems, the political-economic re-definition of Europe, processes of de-regionalisation and re-regionalisation of production linked to changes in corporate disinvestment strategies, and the changing character of places within Europe. Growing globalisation of the economy can be linked to the transition from multinational corporations to transnational corporations. The integration of Europe into global production systems is not, however, simply a consequence of the activities of big companies. Indeed, in other ways it is intimately linked to a transition in what were previously seen as very sticky places in Europe, notably industrial districts such as those of the Third Italy. Processes of political integration have produced a still evolving multi-scalar system of governance and regulation in Europe, especially the EU. As an embryonic emergent super-state, the EU both encourages and seeks to resist processes of globalisation.
