The Baltic Sea Region: The Territory and Inner Structure

Abstract

One of the consequences of globalization that is developing in the world is regionalization. Not only national, but also international regions are shaping up featuring different hierarchical levels: macro-, meso- and micro-regions. Among the most established regions is the Baltic Sea region, consolidating states (Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia) and administrative units of the states situated on the seacoast (of Russia, Germany, and Poland). This is a coherent region united by economic, political, and social internal links, as well as by the common issue of conservation of the Baltic Sea nature. Within it, there can be distinguished parts that differ from one another by history, national and religious makeup, the level and structure of the economic development. The paper, on the basis of comparative statistical and factographic analysis, shows both the links uniting the Baltic Sea region in an integral whole, and its most considerable inner differences.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n6s7p212