New governance for new threats: the transnational cooperation in south eastern european countries

• Author: Alina Angela Manolescu
• Position: PhD candidate, LUSPIO University of Rome
• Pages: 201-205

NEW GOVERNANCE FOR NEW THREATS: THE TRANSNATIONAL

COOPERATION IN SOUTH EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

Alina Angela Manolescu

∗

∗∗

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Abstract

The paper studies the impact of globalization and the challenges for human rights

protection in South Eastern European countries. Nowadays challenges and threats imply

actions that can be implemented only in a transnational system. Therefore, South Eastern

Europe has to begin a cross-border framework of cross-border relations.

Key words: Cross-border cooperation, South Eastern Europe, globalization,

governance

Introduction

The European Union represents a space of stability, peace and welfare that could be

extended to the early democracies of Eastern European countries if measures should be taken

in order to promote cross-border cooperation in the area.

The connections between people and states are transforming and a shift is needed

from multicultural to intercultural societies. In this sense transnational cooperation in South

Eastern countries seems to be the most adequate politic, in order to achieve a good

governance in a world affected of new threats.

The impact of globalization – challenges for human rights protection

The dynamics of globalization reduce the autonomy of national governments.

Globalized norms of human rights and democratic governance penetrate borders, reshaping

old concepts of sovereignty and autonomy. Sovereignty is rewired: what happens beyond our

borders affects our own well-being and commands cooperative action.

The power of transnational corporations, the limits imposed on government policy by

currency markets, the cross-border politics of NGOs, the transfiguring power of global media

undermine the power of states

1

. But for some reasons globalization strengthens the state and

extends its influence, for example in the international protection of human rights. The conflict

between international standards and the sovereign state has been carefully observed by

Calabrò,”Even human rights can only be submitted to the sovereign power of individual

states, and then be swallowed up by political will."

2

In confounding globalization with governance, the main conflict is that of a parallel

integration of societies and their fracture. Nowadays states have new capacities due to the fact

that globalization gives them legitimacy for actions beyond national borders. States should

use this power to undertake cooperative solutions for the emergent threats.

In this context arises th e need to reshape the role and limits of state sovereignty. The

contrast between state sovereignty and human rights occurs in various situations: between

state sovereignty and territorial integrity th e actions of humanitarian aid, including the

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PhD candidate, LUSPIO University of Rome

1

Ferrarese Maria Rosaria, Le istituzioni della globalizzazione. Diritto e diritti nella società transnazionale, Ed.

Il mulino, 2000.

2

Calabrò Gian Pietro, Valori supremi e legalità costituzionale. Diritti della persona e democrazia pluralistica,

Giappichelli Editore, Torino, 1999.