For millennia, contact between societies was limited to trade or wars, a situation that changed profoundly with the development of global markets serving industrialization. The outcome was the emergence of one global human civilization, and one common future that will depend on the capacity of individuals and societies to manage the potentials for social development.

This edited collection is dedicated to the discussion of four global trends: upgrading the rationality of organizations, individualization, the spreading of instrumental activism and universalization of value-normative systems. The mutual influence of these interrelated trends brings about both constructive and destructive effects in social life, social integration and change.

Contributors examine questions such as: How do global trends pave their way in regions? What are the similarities and differences of regional development? How do agencies cope with the challenges of global trends in regional development?

1. Introduction: The Challenge of Four Global Trends Nikolai Genov Part I: Upgrading the Rationality of Organizations 2. Values and Interests in Processes of Macro-Regional Integration Max Haller 3. The European Union and NAFTA as Models of Regional Organization Jan-Erik Lane 4. Contradictions in European Integration: A Global Perspective Chris Rumford and Didem Buhari-Gulmez 5. Regional Integration in East Asia as a Reaction to Global Challenges Patrick Ziltener Part II: Individualization 6. Elitist Distinction and Globalization Jean-Pascal Daloz 7. European Elites' Threat Perception and Preferences Concerning Crisis Management György Lengyel 8. Individualization under Precarious Conditions Elena Danilova 9. Globalization and the Transformation of Gender-Relations in Asia Habibul Haque Khondker Part III: Spreading of Instrumental Activism 10. Regional Varieties of Global Inequalities: Reclaiming Space for Public Policies Klaus Müller 11. Changing Market Conditions and the Welfare State Martin Seeleib-Kaiser 12. Globalization and Increasing Inequality in East Asia: The Case of Japan and South Korea Jin-Wook Shin 13. Social Fields of Technological Innovation Borut Ron¿evi¿ and Dolores Modic Part IV: Universalization of Value-Normative Systems 14. Universalism, Particularism and Moral Change: Reflections on the Value-Normative Concepts of the Social Sciences Stephen P. Turner 15. New Forms of Reflexive Ethnization: Value-Normative Universalism and Ethnic Particularisms Mathias Bös 16. Universal Values and Geopolitical Interests: China and India in the Global Competition Emilian Kavalski 17. Neo-Liberalism and Civil Society: Sweden and United States in Comparison Sven Eliaeson 18. Conclusion: Striking the Balance and Looking Forward Nikolai Genov

Nikolai Genov is Professor in the Institute of Sociology/Institute of Eastern European Studies at Free University Berlin.