Continental Protectionism

Description:

The ongoing globalisation will halt at the continental borders. Continentalism refers to the agreements or policies that favor the regionalization and/or cooperation between nations within a continent. As a result each continent; Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia, Australia will increasingly be one economy.

Enablers:

- Telecommunication
- Time Zones
- Physical boundaries: seas
- Religion
- Drinking water scarcity
- Shrinking oil reserves
- Continental languages (e.g. North America English, Europe English, South America Spanish, Arabic)
- Continental unions: African Union, European Union, Unites States,..

Inhibitors:

- Global Industry
- World Wide Web
- Nationalism
- Global commuters
- WTO
- NATO

Paradigms:

The continents have historically grown into a strong homogeneity of race, religion and economic standards. The combination of an ongoing globalism, backed by 24hr economies, internet and relatively cheap flights and on the other hand an increasing religious and cultural split will drive the continentalism.

Continentalism is enforced by the practical travel distances within continents (e.g. 4 hr flights), as well as physical infrastructures (e.g. electricity networks, roads, railways). The oceans will continue to be a "mental" border between the continents, where the nations within the continent will blend into one.

Timing:

04-07-1776: United States founded
01-01-2002: Euro implemented in 12 European countries
09-07-2002: Establishment of the African Union, intergovernmental organisation consisting of 52 African states
08-12-2004: Formation of Union of South American Nations

Web Resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continentalism