Both among globalization theory as well as foreign policy (FP) studies (and FPA, in particular), the impact of globalization on the state, the effects of political globalization and the transformations it brings to FP have been understood as (not so relevant) contextual elements, generically described or even completely excluded. Following a brief overview on the interaction between globalization theory and FP, as well as between FP studies and globalization, and the framework of analysis applied to our research, we will explore the selection of Southern Europe as the regional focus of our study, analysing related challenges on three different levels. Firstly, the very categorization of Southern Europe as a region; secondly, Southern Europe and globalization (particularly, political globalization); thirdly, Southern Europe in international relations (namely, FP, international organizations and global governance). In sum, this is a short introduction to the relevance of studying contemporary Southern Europe FP in the context of globalization (and global governance), its implications, limitations and possible solutions to those challenges. Our claim is that FP studies could be rendered more valuable and specific if they adapt to include globalization in its studies as a relevant variable, particularly if they do so in a systematic and comparative fashion.
Keywords: globalization; global governance; foreign policy; Southern Europe
Pedro Ponte e Sousa (pedrosousa_pps@hotmail.com)
New University of Lisbon, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FCSH-UNL)
Portuguese Institute of International Relations (IPRI)