The EU and regionalism : the case of Belgium and Spain

Abstract

This dissertation paper focuses upon the subject of Regionalism within the European Union and the following questions: what are regionalism and regions, how do they develop, how are they maintained and how are they influenced by the EU? The aim of the dissertation is to better understand how the European Union impacts regionalism as a measure of how the European Union has developed its member states not only economically but socially and politically as well. Regionalism as a concept has been discussed in various academic circles as its development is an amalgamation of various socio-political and economical factors that naturally attracts the interests of various academics. However, in regard to the European Union, not many studies have been done as to any correlation between the integration of the European Union and the development of regionalism in its member states. This paper therefore contributes to the discussion and academia of regionalism by providing any observations and analysis to any existing relationship between European integration and regionalism and what it means for the future of the European Union and its member states. The paper uses Spain and Belgium and their respective regions as the mediums through which the development of regionalism within the European Union is examined and analysed. The paper explores the different aspects of regionalism and the European Union within the literature review of the paper to obtain a better understanding of the development of regionalism to then analyse said factors with recent developments within the regions of Spain and Belgium and come to a conclusion on if and how the European Union played a role.