My involvement in international economic integration began when I was studying European integration at the Europa Institute of the University of Amsterdam during the 1980/81 academic year. However, the pivotal event that led to the writing of this book was my study and research programme at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, during the 1986/87 academic year. I continued working and publishing on the subject at the University of Belgrade, the United Nations Centre on Transnational Corporations in New York and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe in Geneva.

I have benefited from human capital and discussions, as well as delightful and advantageous contacts with many friends and colleagues over the years. There are, however, several to whom I owe a special debt of gratitude for various kinds of valuable inspiration, encouragement, comments and assistance in the preparation of this book. Je tiens à remercier tout particulièrement Marinette Payot qui m’a beaucoup aidé sans que je le sache. Un ringraziamento va a Marina Rossi che mi ha aiutato senza saperlo. I also extend my thanks to Marc-Aurel Battaglia, Lisa Borgatti, Eric Fiechter, Eckhard Freyer, Dragosˇ Kalajic´, Oskar Kovacˇ, Richard G. Lipsey, Alexandar Rado, Joël Robichaud, Rolf Traeger, Hélène-Divna Tzico Stefanesco, Joanna Wheeler and James Wiltshire. Jovan and Nikola Jovanovic´ assisted greatly with the graphics. The UN library in Geneva, particularly Anthony Donnarumma and Cristina Giordano, provided me with most of the sources. Margaret Pugh edited the text superbly, while Sheila Milne proofread the final version. Finally, Luke Adams of Edward Elgar encouraged this project from the outset, while Caroline Cornish efficiently prepared the text for print.

I am grateful to all of them. The usual disclaimer, however, applies here: I bear sole responsibility for all shortcomings and mistakes. In addition, the expressed views are my own and are not necessarily those of the organisation in which I work.

Miroslav N. Jovanovic´
Geneva, 2006