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Abstract:
Once we acknowledge that disintegration of the EU is a "thinkable" option, it becomes important to grasp what "the collapse of the Union" would mean. How can the "disintegration" of the Union be defined or conceptualized? Would the departure of just one country from the eurozone or from the EU itself amount to "disintegration"? Contrary to the expectations of some democratic theorists, the EU will not collapse because of the "democratic deficit" of European institutions. Nor will it be saved by the democratic mobilization of civil society. Paradoxically, it is widespread disillusionment with democracy—the shared belief that national governments are powerless in the face of global markets—that may be the best hope for reconciling the growing tension between the goal of further European integration and the goal of deepening democracy in Europe.

Is the Soviet Union heading towards a new federation, a new confederation, or simply disintegration? At this point, the Soviets themselves do not know, and this is due in part to the fact that they seem confused about the meaning of these terms. Professor Rywkin analyzed recent trends in the Soviet Union, noting three competing principles currently being voiced in the Soviet Union.

This paper is based on the College Lecture delivered at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 8 March, 1989. It draws attention to the regional context of the apartheid issue. Its central argument is that apartheid is at the very nub of relations - political, economic, security - between the states of southern Africa. Without an understanding of apartheid's role in the region, there is no explaining its past, present and future and no understanding of the forces for integration and disintegration