英文摘要 |
Trade has been the foundation of international cooperation ever since the dawn of international relations. The free, or freer flow of products can enhance economic growth and consequently well-being either in a positive or a negative way, first of all depending on whether an actor is ‘insider' or ‘outsider'. Not least as its consequence trade has frequently served as the prime cause of great inter-state confrontations. The conclusion can be drawn that trade in itself is not simply an economic action but one that has many political, security and naturally also economic-connotations and so it must be studied in an interdisciplinary manner. In the first part of this paper attention will be paid to the political and security aspects of economic cooperation with out of the ordinary regard to global conditions, and the political and security elements involved in the liberalization process. Also particular attention will be dedicated to international/regional integrations where-at least seemingly, but just seemingly-trade and economic elements play the decisive role. With the social and economic development of human societies, and not least as the consequence of globalization and the advancement of international relations (IR) inter-state cooperation has become ever more complex and the gradual elevation of the complexity of inter-state relations can be reflected through the different levels of closeness, in other words of the interdependence of the different political entities. In this process trade is but one of the prime movers of development and at different times it played different roles. This can be clearly seen and reflected through the different forms, modalities, and depth of economic ties. |