Clash or Cooperation of Civilizations?
Overlapping Integration and Identities
Preview
Book Description
For decades North Africa and the Middle East have experienced overlapping identities and integration processes. With the exception of Morocco, the countries of North Africa have supported the re-launch of pan-Africanism in the form of the African Union and its growing institutionalization; but they also share an Arab identity and are members of the Arab League. Islamism commands wide support among the regions of North Africa and the Middle East, and the impact of European integration can increasingly be seen in varying forms. This comprehensive volume focuses on overlapping identities and integration processes in the Mediterranean basin and queries to what extent these various identities and integration processes are compatible or in conflict. Incorporating both theoretical and empirical material, it unites contributions from a variety of countries, thus exploring these issues from different perspectives.
Editor(s)
Biography
Wolfgang Zank is an Associate Professor in the European Studies Programme at Aalborg University, Denmark.
Reviews
'This volume is extremely valuable as it seamlessly blends sophisticated theoretical insights and illuminating empirical analyses. Contributors come to different conclusions about the prospects of further integration in the Mediterranean basin and beyond. However, both pessimists and optimists bring the discussion of an all too often trivialized problématique to an entirely new level.' Matteo Legrenzi, University of Ottawa, Canada 'Although the Mediterranean can historically be considered as an archetype of a region, it is as such under-researched in the modern literature on regionalism. This book is therefore very timely. It looks at crucial issues such as the compatibility of overlapping schemes and the role of identity and culture. The book brings also a welcome optimistic message about the possibilities of future cooperation in this world region.' Philippe De Lombaerde, United Nations University (UNU-CRIS), Belgium