Following the end of the Cold War period, international relations became more complicated once the predictability of the period was removed. This coincided with the rapid expansion of telecommunication technology that led to the effect of a much more open and social world. The new methods of communication and social interaction overcame the constraints of space and time and thus creating new opportunities in the marketplace; for example, in cases of global production networks.
However, it is yet to be seen which method of a wider world' is preferable globalists suggest that globalisation is to be favoured due to the benefits generated for the economy; the sceptics to globalisation however, favour regionalisation stating that globalisation erodes national identity and culture, and that it is possible to preserve the benefits without having to globalise .
Richard Stubbs comments that regionalisation is regarded by some governments as a defence to globalisation; a way to take advantage of some of the benefits of globalisation while retaining a semblance of control. Regions can gather collective bargaining power through organisations such as the EU, NAFTA, AFTA,