European Integration studies 2011.indd


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ISSN 1822–8402 EUROPEAN INTEGRATION STUDIES. 2011. No 5

EUROPE OF KNOWLEDGE: THE CONTEXT OF GLOBAL TRANSFORMATIONS

Borisas Melnikas
Vilnius Gediminas Technical University

Abstract 

The complexity of global transformations and the knowledge based society creation processes, as well as the processes 
of the European integration is analyzed in the article.  The complex analysis and the multidimensional evaluation of 
the processes of global transformations and of the knowledge based society and knowledge economy creation in the 
European Union as an perspective theoretical approach in research on societal changes in the context of globalization is 
defined and described in the article. 

The variety of global transformations is described, the main problems and processes of the creation of knowledge 
based society and knowledge economy in the context of globalization are identified and studied. The processes of the 
creation of knowledge based society and knowledge economy are defined as the processes belonging to the category 
of global transformation processes: it means that the complex interaction between the general processes of global 
transformations and the processes of the creation of knowledge based society and knowledge economy is a very 
important factor of the positive changes in the societal life in the context of globalization and European integration. 
The main idea of the complex analysis and of the evaluation of the factors of interaction between the general processes 
of global transformations and the processes of knowledge based society and knowledge economy creation is that all 
these processes as a common global transformations are defined and analyzed, and the new challenges for creation of 
knowledge based society and knowledge economy in the context of globalization are identified. 

The main regularities of the global transformations are identified, their impact on real processes of knowledge based 
society and knowledge economy creation in the European Union is characterized. 

Keywords: Global transformation, European integration, knowledge based society, knowledge economy, creation processes, 
regularities.

Introduction

The creation of the knowledge based society and 
knowledge economy is perceived as one of the most important 
priorities of the modern society and its lifestyle development, 
as well as of social, economic, political development, science 
and technological progress, especially – in the European 
Union.  

The creation of the knowledge based society and 
knowledge economy is assessed as the most important 
assumption and the main way to solve most of the social, 
economic, technological, even security and defense problems 
worldwide as well as in various countries or regions in 
general and in various countries or regions in the space of the 
European Union.

The processes of the creation of the knowledge based 
society and knowledge economy expresses the essential 
qualitative changes in all the areas of social, economic, 
political life, science and technological progress, and 
interaction with nature. The processes of the creation of the 
knowledge based society and knowledge economy deeply 
influences the content of globalization processes and the 
effect on a situation in the modern world. 

It may be noted that the processes of the creation of the 
knowledge based society and knowledge economy, in general, 
could be perceived and assessed as an essential worldwide 
transformation, which determines a number of breakings and 
sallies, important to all the humankind. 

The processes of the creation of knowledge based society 
and knowledge economy must be analyzed in complexity.  In 

general, the processes of the creation of knowledge based 
society and knowledge economy could be defined as the 
processes belonging to the category of global processes: 
it also means that the complex interaction between the 
processes of global changes and the processes of the creation 
of knowledge based society and knowledge economy is a very 
important factor of the positive development in the societal 
life in the general context of globalization.

There are very different theories and theoretical models of 
knowledge based society and knowledge economy creation 
processes, as well as different theoretical models of these 
processes. Problem is that the knowledge based society and 
knowledge economy creation processes and the processes of 
global transformations are usually analyzed separately: the 
factor of the complex interaction between different processes 
of global transformations and the processes of the creation 
of knowledge based society and knowledge economy is often 
ignored. It means, that a complex analysis of the processes of 
both types, as well as an evaluation of the factors of interaction 
between these processes could be defined as an perspective 
way to solve some actual theoretical and practical problems in 
the area of knowledge based society and knowledge economy, 
especially in the context of globalization.  

The main idea of the complex analysis and of the 
evaluation of the factors of interaction between the different 
processes of global transformations and the processes of 
knowledge based society and knowledge economy creation 
is that all these processes as a general global transformations 
are defined and analyzed, and the new challenges for creation 
of knowledge based society and knowledge economy in the 



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46

context of globalization are identified. This idea is described 
in details in the article.

The object of this article is the processes of global 
transformations, especially - the creation of knowledge based 
society and knowledge economy; the main focus is put on the 
interaction between the processes of knowledge based society 
and knowledge economy creation and of the general processes 
of global transformations in general context of globalization.  

Tasks of the article: to explore the new definitions and to 
systematize the general processes of global transformations; to 
describe the main global transformations and to identified their 
role; to describe the knowledge based society and knowledge 
economy creation processes in the context of globalization; to 
explore  the main challenges for societal development in the 
context of global transformations, including – in the context 
of knowledge based society and knowledge economy creation 
processes.

Research methodology – theoretical study, including 
comparative analysis of the theoretical works, and complex 
analysis of long-term tendencies typical for political, social 
and economic changes  and development processes in the 
European Union. 

The global transformations and the knowledge based 
society creation processes: complexity and idea of the 
multidimensional evaluation 

The processes of the development and changes in the 
contemporary society are very complicated and controversial. 
A lot of new phenomena and circumstances show up under 
the contemporary conditions of social, economic, political 
development and progress of science and technologies. In 
order to understand and react to them, it is necessary to see 
into so-called problems of the complexity of the development 
processes and changes of different types and nature and 
to strive that these problems were solved adequately with 
the new challenges in the life of the society. Besides, the 
importance and significance of the problems of the complexity 
of development processes and changes are indicated by the 
fact that the understanding and salvation of these problems is 
one of the main priorities implemented in the contemporary 
practice of scientific research. 

The complexity of the global transformations  and the 
knowledge based society creation processes could be defined as 
an especially important  case:  the importance and significance 
of this case are indicated  by  the dominance and prevalence 
of the processes and problems of globalization, as well as 
processes and problems of  knowledge based society and 
knowledge economy creation in the context of the changes, 
development processes and problems of the contemporary 
society and its life in  general, especially – in the European 
cultural, social, economic and political space. . 

Modern attitudes to the complexity of the global 
transformations and the knowledge based society creation 
processes, to the concept of complexity of these processes, as 
well as to the understanding and salvation of the problems of 
knowledge based society and knowledge economy creation 
processes in the context of globalization can be characterized 
by extremely wide variety. Such variety determines the fact that 
the phenomena, problems and topicalities can be analyzed by:

• including spaces of different extent (various regions, 
countries or their groups, the world), as well as 

including different systems (various organizations, 
their groups, other systems),

• involving different combinations of processes, 
phenomena, factors and circumstances of social, 
economic, political development, and progress of 
science and technologies into the unit of developmental 
processes, 

• giving preference to different social, economic, 
ecological, technological, political as well as other 
manifestations, consequences or circumstances of the 
knowledge based society  and knowledge economy 
creation processes in the context of globalization,

• regarding the management, administration  and 
governance features of various processes of 
development and progress as well as the multiplicity 
of different subjects and their interests that take place 
in management , administration  and governance 
processes.

The research of the problems of  complexity of the 
global transformations  and the knowledge based society 
creation processes is multi- and interdisciplinary by nature, 
must inevitably have attitudes to social and economic 
development, progress in technologies, environmental 
protection and changes in the modern society and its life, 
which reflect various areas of science, integrated in them. An 
important aspect of the research on complexity of the global 
transformations and the knowledge based society creation 
processes is a regional one, since various social, economic, 
technological, ecological factors are assessed in the extent of 
variously identified regions, by trying to reveal the interaction 
of processes and changes of different nature in various 
regional systems herewith. This aspect could be defined as 
especially important in the conditions of European integration 
and enlargement of the European Union. 

The problems of knowledge based society and knowledge 
economy creation, including - in the context of globalization, 
are analyzed through various aspects in a number of scientific 
works. Particularly  important are studies of knowledge based 
society and knowledge economy creation processes in the 
global space, as well as in European Union and in different 
countries ( Boldrin, Canova (2001); Cohendet, Stojak (2005); 
Currie (2000);  David,  Foray (2002); Daugeliene (2007); 
Dicken (1998); Ein-Dor, Myers,  Raman, (2004); Farnsworth 
(2005); Garrett, Mitchell (2001); Goeransson, Soederberg 
(2005); Grace, Butler (2005); Hayo, Seifert (2003); Hunt 
(2000); Huseman, Godman (1999); Leydesdorff (2004); 
McNally (1999); Melnikas (1990, 2002, 2008);  Melnikas, 
Reichelt (2004); Merrill, Sedgwick (1997); Munasinghe, 
Sunkel, de Miguel (2001); Olsen, Osmundsen (2003); Parker 
(1998); Perraton (2001);  Redding, Venables (2004); Sangmon 
(2002); Steinmueller (2002).  Traditional attitudes to the 
knowledge based society and knowledge economy creation 
emphasize the technological priorities, the new values, the 
new models of lifestyle as well as necessity to ensure the 
internecine compatibility and compensation of developmental 
processes and changes that have different nature. The modern 
concepts of the knowledge based society and knowledge 
economy as well as the concepts of the knowledge based 
society and knowledge economy creation processes are very 
multiple (Castells (2000-2004); Dang, Umemoto (2009); 
Fischer, Gran, Hacker, Jakobi, Petzold, Pusch, Steinberg 



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(2010); Steinmueller (2002); Melnikas (1990-2010)). 
Therefore, it is obvious, that the concepts of the knowledge 
based society and of the knowledge economy may be defined 
and described differently. 

At the same time it can be seen, that most of the scientific 
works on knowledge based society and knowledge economy 
creation does not pay sufficient attention to the impact of the 
knowledge based society and knowledge economy creation 
processes on the development processes in the global space 
as well as in the various sectors of societal life. On the other 
side, most of the scientific works on knowledge based society 
and knowledge economy creation processes are not directly 
oriented to the  solving of actual problems of economic, 
social, political, technological, ecological development, 
especially - economic, social, political, technological, 
ecological sustainability and sustainable  development in 
general  (Castells (2000-2004);  Friedman (2006, 2009);  
Melnikas (2010)). 

In general, contemporary practice of scientific research 
on problems of knowledge based society and knowledge 
economy creation is characterized by the prevalence of  the 
specific studies and research works, which are oriented to the 
separately research  on  various specific topics of knowledge 
based society and knowledge economy creation problems and 
processes: various aspects of the complexity of the  processes 
of the creation of  knowledge based society and knowledge 
economy in the context of globalization have not been 
investigated. 

Despite the fact that traditional attitudes to the knowledge 
based society and knowledge economy creation in the context 
of globalization are characterized by a wide variety, extensive 
coverage of processes and problems and considerable 
possibilities of practical application, it is still possible to 
claim that nowadays there appear many new circumstances, 
conditions and phenomena, the impact and role of which 
insufficiently reflect in most of the traditional attitudes. For 
this reason, traditional concepts of the processes and problems 
of the creation of knowledge based society and knowledge 
economy become more and more inadequate to the modern 
needs and challenges and require essential supplements and 
specifications.

It must be noted, that modern attitudes to the creation 
of  knowledge based society and knowledge economy 
should deeper reflect the role and influence of new type 
transformation processes that are taking place in the world 
now. The most important role and influence are of those 
transformations, which reflect the global spread of values and 
ideas of the knowledge based society and of the sustainability 
of new knowledge creation processes : namely the creation 
of knowledge based society and the spread of its values 
and ideas, as well as the spread of  the ideas and values of 
sustainability of new knowledge creation processes in the 
global environment condition can activate and stimulate the 
new transformations in the modern society and its life, as well 
as help to understand the necessity to react to the needs of the 
creation of knowledge based society and knowledge economy 
and solve new problems in a new way. 

It is possible to claim that the essential priority of the 
actualization of the traditional concepts of knowledge based 
society and knowledge economy creation and development 
processes is that the modern concept should be oriented 

to the complexity and sustainability of social, economic, 
technological, ecological  development processes and must 
reflect both the global transformation processes in general 
and those global transformation processes, which reflect the 
creation of knowledge based society, knowledge economy 
and the spread of values and ideas of the sustainability of new 
knowledge creation processes. 

When actualizing the concepts of the knowledge based 
society and knowledge economy creation and considering the 
circumstances of the global transformations, it is purposeful 
to refer to certain theoretical attitudes, which could be used 
when analyzing various phenomena of the knowledge based 
society and knowledge economy creation processes. The idea 
of multidimensional evaluation of the processes of global 
transformations as well as processes of knowledge based 
society and knowledge economy creation, and the so-called 
“power” concept should be distinguished among those 
theoretical attitudes: their ideas and application possibilities 
are revealed in various studies (Melnikas (1990, 2002, 2007, 
2010)).

The global transformations as a general context of the 
processes of knowledge based society creation in the 
European Union

Situation in the space of European Union  as well as in the 
contemporary world in general  is more and more conditioned 
by multiple globalization processes, which appear in all areas 
of political social, economic life, and in all sectors of culture 
as well as of science and technological progress. Globalization 
processes proximately influence society’s lifestyle and the 
quality of life, as well as the changes, which take place in 
all areas of life (Ravenhil (2008);  Friedman (2006, 2009);  
Appiah (2007); Castells (2000-2004); Chossudovsky (2003);  
Melnikas (2002)). Besides, the perception and assessment of 
the meaning of globalization processes regarding the content 
and singleness of changes in the world are considered a very 
important assumption to scientifically cognize and adequately 
analyze the nature of globalization itself: it is obvious, that 
deep and complex cognition and analysis of globalization 
processes are possible only in those cases, when globalization 
processes are treated as changes, which take place in a global 
extent, and as global environment of such changes. 

Relation of the conception of globalization processes to 
global changes and their environment allows speculating that 
the so-called processes of global transformations are considered 
exceptionally significant among globalization processes. 
The reason for such speculation is the fact, that the essence 
of transformation processes (or, simply, transformations) is 
qualitative changes, which determine the creation of new 
systems: globalization processes namely express the world’s 
qualitative changes; therefore, the transformation processes 
are treated as exceptionally important and significant in the 
general whole of globalization processes. 

Global transformation processes are characterized by a 
wide variety and may be identified and classified according 
to various features. The following features may be treated as 
the most important ones among the features, which should be 
taken into consideration when identifying and classifying the 
processes of global transformations:

• features, which characterize natural and climate 
conditions, as well as their influence on various global 



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changes and situation,
• features, which characterize human resources, their 

potential, change of its structure, as well as global role 
of human resources,

• features, which characterize the society, its 
development, structure, change dynamics, as well as 
features, which help to describe various types and 
models of the society itself and its organization, and 
global spread and spread dynamics of these types and 
models,

• features, which characterize global variety and spread 
of cultures, mentalities, value systems, models of 
lifestyle, and social behavior stereotypes,

• features, which characterize the processes of social, 
political, economic development, as well as science and 
technological progress, the impact and consequences of 
these processes, which appear or may appear globally.

The above-mentioned features, as a unit, as well as various 
their combinations allow universally and complexly describing 
the modern processes of global transformations and their 
variety. It is obvious, that regarding the complex cognition 
of global transformations, other features, characterizing such 
transformations may appear. 

The variety of global transformations is also shown by the 
fact that global transformations may be identified, assessed 
and analyzed by two different approaches:

• geographically regional approach, when global 
transformations, their expression or their impacts on the 
society and its life are assesses and analyzed according 
to a country, region, continent or other geographically 
or regionally identified system,

• sectoral approach, when global transformations, their 
expression or their impacts on the society and its life 
are assessed and analyzed by distinguishing certain 
sectors, out of the whole of global transformations, 
which are identified by regarding the content, character 
or forms of expression of global transformations 
themselves, and by assessing and analyzing the global 
transformations according to various sectors (besides, 
various sectors may be identified by highlighting 
multiple features, typical of the global transformations 
themselves).

Moreover, the variety of global transformations shows 
that global transformations, as a unit, are exceptionally 
complicated area, which requires scientific cognition and 
research. It is possible to claim, that the underlying aim of the 
research in this area is to assess and foresee possible impacts 
of global transformations on the society, its development, its 
life, as well as to make assumptions for purposeful influence 
and management of the society development processes. 

The impacts of global transformations on the modern 
society in general and on the changes in its life, development 
and progress are multiple, complicated and even contradictory. 

Several circumstances determine the multiplicity and 
complication of the impact of global transformations 
on the society and changes in its life. Firstly, the global 
transformations themselves are characterized by a variety of 
typical features, which inevitably conditions the multiplicity 
and complication of these transformations and their impact. 
Secondly, global transformations, as a unit, may be identified 
as composing different geographically regional or sectoral 

systems: the variety of different geographically regional or 
sectoral systems reflects the multiplicity and complication 
of the impact of global transformations on the society 
and changes in its life. Thirdly, controversial tendencies, 
when certain development, progress and change processes 
evoke positively and negatively assessed results, inevitably 
appear under the conditions of the variety, multiplicity and 
complication of the global transformations and their impact 
on the society and changes in its life. 

 Global transformations, which express the changes of 
natural and climate conditions, are very significant because 
these transformations reflect new challenges and needs 
to solve multiple ecological problems, radically reduce 
environmental pollution, save limited natural resources and 
seek for new alternatives for the use if these resources, as well 
as implement the means for the prevention of natural disasters 
and the reduction and elimination of their results (Friedman 
(2009)).   The significance of global transformations, which 
express the changes of natural and climate conditions, is 
shown by objectively highlighted influences to implement 
qualitatively new principles and standards of the development 
and management of various eco-systems globally.  Essential 
changes in the modern society and its life are inevitably 
determined by the creation, spread and implementation of 
such principles and standards (Melnikas (2002, 2010)). 

 Global transformations, which express the changes of the 
potential of human resources and its structure, are especially 
significant due to two essential reasons. Firstly, these global 
transformations reflect the changes of human resource potential 
and their influence on the change of the modern society and 
its lifestyle. Secondly, these global transformations reflect the 
efficiency and usefulness of various impacts on the potential 
of human resources and its change. Global transformations, 
which express the changes of the potential of human resources 
and its structure may be perceived and assessed as the ones, 
which reflect and influence demographic situation and its 
changes globally, in separate continents, countries or regions, 
among different social groups and layers, as well as in the 
spread areas of different ethnic, confessional, cultural or 
other mentality groups, which determine the impacts of 
demographic situations and their changes on the developing 
economical, social, political, ecological or other situation 
in the world, in separate continents, countries or regions, 
determine possibilities and assumptions that new threats, 
dangers or problems, which will be caused by the changes in 
the demographic situation, will inevitably appear in the world, 
in separate continents, countries or regions, which show the 
variety of reasons, why the structure of human potential 
and demographic situation change, as well as the variety 
of possibilities to influence the changes of demographic 
situation.  The significance of global transformations, which 
express the changes of the potential of human resources and 
its structure, is shown by objectively appearing needs of the 
world, separate continents, countries and regions to implement 
newly perceived humanistic orientations, which reflect an 
increasing priority of natural human rights and freedoms, as 
well as complexly treated pursuit to improve the life quality: 
namely the perception, highlighting and implementation of 
the importance of humanistic orientations must be treated as 
the basis to react to the global transformations expressing the 
potential of human resources and the change of its structure 



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(McNally (1999)). 
 Global transformations, which express changes typical 

for the modern society, its structure and organization, are 
very significant for several essential reasons. Firstly, these 
global transformations reflect quite controversial processes, 
happening in the world, when assimilation and variety 
increase tendencies are typical of the change of society 
structures in different countries and regions. Secondly, 
these global transformations reflect the tendencies of the 
convergence of various society organization forms, including 
the tendency, the essence of which is convergence, multiple 
integration and even assimilation of a country’s models and 
types, typical of a modern country, as the highest form of the 
society organization. Thirdly, these global transformations 
reflect very significant changes, which are typical of the 
role, activity and influence of modern countries, various 
international organizations, as well as international business 
subjects and other organizations, movements or formations. 
Fourthly, these global transformations reflect new type 
threats, dangers and risks, as well as new type possibilities 
when developing multiple progresses, which arise or appear 
under the conditions of change of modern society structures 
and its organization forms. Global transformations, which 
express changes typical for the modern society, its structure 
and organization, may be perceived and assessed as the ones, 
which:

• determine the changes of powers and function 
structures, typical of modern countries, which reflect a 
general tendency, when the role of a state influencing 
and affecting the situation in various areas of social, 
economic, political development as well as science 
and technological progress, changes in essence. (The 
changes of the role of a state may be expressed in two 
ways: the first one is that a modern state gains new 
powers and takes up new functions; and the second 
– that, in the areas of traditional powers expression 
and implementation of traditional functions, the 
role of a state is more determined by its cooperation 
with various international and non-governmental 
organizations, with various social movements, various 
organizations, functioning in business and public 
sectors, and other subjects, most importantly – the 
subjects of international business, their networks and 
other formations),

• determine essential changes, typical of the activity and 
role of formal and informal international organizations 
and other formations, especially – for the activity 
and role of international inter-state organizations and 
international economical and business organizations: 
under contemporary conditions, namely international 
organizations and other formations of various 
subjects perform various functions and gain more and 
more powers to influence and affect a situation and 
development processes in separate countries or regions 
as well as internationally,

• influence essential changes in the modern management 
systems of the society development processes, 
including changes of democracy conception, and 
changes implementing democracy values and 
principles in a real management and self-government 
practice (besides, the changes of democracy and its 

values and principles naturally determine needs for 
change in various management system chains of the 
modern society development processes),

• determine creation and activity activation, variety 
increase and influence growth of various non-
governmental organizations, movements and informal 
structures in the world, separate countries or regions: 
an appropriate tendency reflects manifestations of new 
society activeness forms as well as the increase of 
various interest groups’ role and significance,

• determine the fact, that in the future there is going to 
be new type interaction between various subjects of 
activity and management, which operate internationally 
(states, various their organizations, other international 
organizations, various international business subjects 
and their formations), as well as regionally (various 
institutions of public administration, business subjects, 
international and local organizations, other subjects): 
it must be noted, that new type interaction appears and 
may appear in various forms of network, 

• determine the fact, that there is going to be new 
type interaction between an individual and various 
organizations locally, regionally, in countries or 
internationally, and such interaction is gaining a bigger 
role and is becoming more and more intensive: under 
contemporary conditions individuals are becoming 
significant subjects of the society development 
processes, who are actively acting the globalization 
environment.

The significance of global transformations, which express 
the change of modern society structures and is organization 
forms, is shown by objectively appearing needs to adequately 
react to the changes of organization forms, typical to the modern 
society, as well as changes in the management of the society 
development processes and changes of the democracy and the 
conception of its value and principles as well as the results 
of such conception change. It must be emphasized, that the 
significance of the above-mentioned global transformations 
is also shown by the objectively appearing needs to ensure 
the consolidation of humanistic and democratic values 
when globalization processes are becoming more and more 
intense, when the mobility of individuals, various social 
groups and layers, as well as organizations is increasing in 
various forms, and when new possibilities to develop multiple 
interaction among various activity and management subjects 
is increasing. 

The global transformations, which express the changes 
typical for the modern society, its structure and organization, 
as well as the changes of the potential of human resources 
and its structure, could be defined as a global context of 
the changes of the potential of human resources  and of the 
various organizational changes in all spheres and sectors of 
the contemporary society and its life.

Global transformations, which express the changes 
of cultures, mentalities, value systems, social behavior 
stereotypes, are very important because these transformations 
proximately affect ideals, expectations, ideological attitudes, 
assessment criteria as well as lifestyle models and underlying 
development trends, which are entrenched in the society 
and its life. It is obvious, that global transformations, which 
express the changes of cultures, mentalities, value systems, 



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social behavior stereotypes are also important because 
these transformations particularly reflect the manifestations 
and tendencies for change of the society’s psychological 
state, morale, ethnic and esthetic attitudes, spirituality, 
innovations and creativity, inertness and conservatism, 
tolerance and adaptation to the environment abilities. Global 
transformations, which express the changes of cultures, 
mentalities, value systems, social behavior stereotypes, may 
be perceived and assessed as the ones, which:

• determine the activation of spread processes and 
variety increase of different cultures, mentalities, value 
systems, social behavior stereotypes, as well as their 
interaction and convergence tendencies: the expression 
of such tendencies reflects inevitable creation and 
development processes of qualitatively new cultures, 
mentalities, value systems, social behavior stereotypes, 
as well as their spread areas in separate continents, 
countries or regions, as well as internationally in 
general,

• determine the fact, that historically “alien” 
cultures intensively “penetrate” into historically 
created traditional concentration spaces of certain 
ethnic, confessional or other cultures, and that this 
“penetration” causes ambivalent consequences: they 
create preconditions for intensive connection of various 
cultures and creation of qualitatively new cultures, as 
well as they create preconditions for the expression 
of new conflicts, threats and dangers, which could be 
determined or encouraged by the increasing variety of 
cultures and too great inadequacy of different cultures,

• encourage the creation of preconditions for the 
expression of multiple synergetic effects, which 
may determine the activation and development of 
innovations which include all areas of life, as well as 
the appearance of new risks, threats and dangers,

• determine inevitable changes in those systems of 
criteria and dimensions, on the basis of which it may 
be possible to react to the natural change of cultures, 
mentalities and other spaces, including the ones, on 
the basis of which it may be possible to “structuralize” 
various world’s spaces (especially – to identify the 
spread areas of various cultures, interest or influence 
spheres of various countries and their groups, various 
markets). The changes of criteria and dimension 
systems not only determines the changes in the 
cognition of the modern world and the establishment 
and identification areas of various “cause-effect” 
connections, but also determine essential changes 
when creating, adapting and implementing means used 
by the society and meant for single-minded reaction to 
the change of cultures, mentalities, value systems and 
social behavior stereotypes. 

The significance of global transformations, which express 
the changes of cultures, mentalities, value systems, social 
behavior stereotypes, is shown by the emphatic needs to 
adequately react to the changes of cultures, mentalities, value 
systems, social behavior stereotypes and their spread areas, 
to the outcomes of changes, which include all the areas of the 
modern society life, as well as to the fact, that these changes 
influence the change of the society structures and its lifestyle 
models. It must be noted, that the significance of these global 

transformations is also shown by the fact, that the change 
of cultures, mentalities, value systems, social behavior 
stereotypes highly influences society’s tendencies to initiate 
and tolerate changes in various areas of its life (Melnikas 
(2002)). 

Global transformations, which express changes in various 
areas of social, economic, political development, science 
and technological progress, are extremely significant due 
to two reasons. Firstly, these transformations determine 
long-term qualitative changes and long-term development 
tendencies, which inevitably appear and will appear in all 
areas of the society, its life and development globally, as 
well as in separate countries or regions. Secondly, these 
transformations determine the multi-channel influences and 
“cause-effect’ connections, which reflect general interaction 
phenomena, when changes in some areas of the society life 
and development proximately influence changes in other areas 
of the society life and development. The general interaction 
phenomena shows, that these global transformations reflect 
multiple functional as well as correlation connections, which 
show various subordinations among the changes in different 
areas of social, economic, political development, science and 
technological progress and the change tendencies. 

The importance of global transformations, which express 
changes in various areas of social, economic, political 
development, science and technological progress, is also 
obvious because these transformations reflect the assimilation 
of processes and changes, which take place in particular areas 
of development, progress and society life, worldwide or in 
large global areas. The essence of such assimilation is that a 
situation in particular areas of the society life, development 
and progress in different countries or regions is becoming 
more and more assimilated, due to the appearing orientations 
to identical standards, norms, etalons, ideals, expectations, 
activity models, or stereotypes. It means that general global 
changes, which include different areas of social, economical, 
political development, science and technological progress, 
increasingly influence the situation in certain development 
and progress areas in separate countries or regions, as well as 
in every country or region in general.

Global transformations, which express changes in various 
areas of social, economic, political development, science and 
technological progress, may be perceived and assessed as the 
ones which:

• determine the fact that the influence of the development, 
progress and change in some areas of the society’s life 
on the development progress and change in other areas 
of the society’s life is increasing worldwide and in 
separate countries or regions. Such increase of many-
sided, multiple and multi-channel influences reflects the 
significance increase of interaction, convergence and 
harmony among different sectors of social, economic, 
political development, science and technological 
progress, and shows a common tendency, that changes 
in certain sectors determine the changes in others under 
the conditions of globalization,

• determine trajectory, extent and rate inter-inadequacies 
among the processes and changes in different areas of 
social, economic, political development, science and 
technological progress, when development, progress 
and change processes taking place in different areas 



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51

are characterized by more and more different and 
incompatible trajectories, extent and rate. At the same 
time, ambivalent assumptions emerge – the assumptions 
that qualitative sallies should be implemented in 
certain areas of the development, progress and change, 
and the assumptions that disproportions and conflicts 
should emerge in certain areas of the development, 
progress and change, which may have various negative 
consequences on the society and its life,

•  condition the needs to comprehensively coordinate 
and harmonize changes, which take place in different 
areas of social, economical, political development, 
science and technological progress. Despite the 
fact that global transformations are perceived as an 
objectively appearing phenomenon, it is still necessary 
to react single-mindedly to various  manifestations of 
this phenomenon and strive to rationally adapt to the 
objectively inevitable changes and effectively implement 
the prevention of undesirable effects using the means 
of coordination and harmonization, including the cases 
when unacceptable and undesirable inequality appears 
in different areas on the development, progress and 
change.

Global transformations, which express changes in various 
areas of social, economic, political development, science and 
technological progress, reflect the possibilities to solve and 
eliminate problems, which arise in various areas with the help 
of the experience or new development, progress and change 
results cumulated in other areas. These global transformations 
reflect common tendencies significant for the modern society 
and its life. 

The above-mentioned tendency appears multiply and 
controversially – factors of the same origin may differently 
influence various processes of social, economic, political 
development, science and technological progress, and the 
effects of those influences may also be very different and 
differently assessed.

The significance of global transformations, which express 
changes in various areas of social, economic, political 
development, science and technological progress, is shown 
by objectively appearing needs to adequately react:

• to the variety, inequality and outcome multiplicity of 
the appropriate development, progress and change 
processes,

• to new risks, dangers and threats, which arise and 
appear owing to changes, as well as to the needs 
harmoniously adapt to the multiple and controversial 
development, progress and change processes, which 
appear in various areas, 

• to the needs to single-mindedly influence and even 
manage the development, progress and change 
processes within the limits of objectively existing and 
conspired possibilities.

It must be emphasized, that the above-mentioned global 
transformations show the modern society’s powers to actively 
and single-mindedly influence its life’s conditions at the 
same time partially programming the trajectories of further 
development and progress. 

In general, the global transformations, which express 
changes in various areas of social, economic, political 
development, science and technological progress, could be 

defined as an important precondition and as a global context 
of various social, economic, political, technological  changes 
in all spheres and sectors of the contemporary society and 
its life, as well as in all countries and regions: this statement 
is especially important  in the conditions of European 
integration and  enlargement of the European Union (Foltean, 
Feder (2009); Armstrong (20060; Daugeliene (2007);  Zeitlin 
(2008); Wendt (2005);  Melnikas,  Reichelt (2004)).

In conclusion, it may be noted, that global transformations, 
as a unit, are so much multiple and complicated, that even a 
detailed study of these transformations creates assumptions 
to perceive and assess various factors and circumstances, 
which are typical to transformations and their effects, only 
very superficially. 

The new challenges for the knowledge based society 
creation in the European Union: the context of global 
transformations

Global transformations are typical not only for 
contemporary world in general, but also for the space of the 
European Union. Global transformations, their expression and 
influence on the modern society and its life are characterized 
by wide variety and significant common regularities.

Among common regularities, typical of global 
transformations, the following must be emphasized:

• regularities, which reflect universalism and 
unification processes under the conditions of global 
transformations, 

• regularities of the increasing uncertainties and their 
expression,

• regularities of unsynchronized development and the 
expression of resonance effects,

• regularities, which express society’s needs to activate 
innovations, stimulate creativity, and strengthen 
adaptation and tolerance skills.

The above-mentioned regularities are perceived as very 
important and significant under contemporary conditions.

Regularities, which reflect universalism and unification 
processes under the conditions of global transformations, 
express a typical tendency of the universal convergence. The 
essence of this tendency is that identical standards, norms, 
etalons, as well as expectations, activity and lifestyle models, 
behavior stereotypes, which reflect the newest achievements 
and the newest conception of quality and modernity in 
all areas of the society life, social, economic, political 
development, science and technological progress, spread, 
are assimilated, implemented and renewed on a world scale. 
This tendency reflects a periodic phenomenon, the essence of 
which is continuously periodic situation assimilation typical 
of every specific area of the society’s life, development and 
progress on a world scale. 

Regularities of the increasing uncertainties and their 
expression reflect the factor that more and more various 
uncertainties are appearing under the conditions of global 
transformations, and the expression of these uncertainties is 
much more various. These regularities are very important when 
trying to perceive and solve the problems of the sustainable  
development, besides, more and more uncertainties are 
appearing under the conditions of global transformations, 
which are necessary to consider when diagnosing, forecasting 
and planning the processes of the sustainable development.



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Regularities of unsynchronized development and the 
expression of resonance effects reflect two simultaneous 
tendencies, which are different as well as complementary:

• development, progress and change processes, which 
take place in different areas of the society’s life, 
activity and development, as well as in different 
countries or regions, are characterized by multiple 
unsynchronicities, unbalancing, and inequalities: 
this tendency reflects the appearing possibilities that 
various development, progress and change processes 
may be characterized by increasing disproportions, 
which may provoke additional risks and threats,

• development, progress and change processes, which 
take place in different areas of the society’s life, activity 
and development, as well as in different countries 
or regions, are characterized by the congruence of 
space and time parameters (this tendency also reflects 
the resonance of different processes and may be 
described as a tendency reflecting resonance effects). 
This tendency reflects the appearing new risks and 
threats, which are or may be caused by the resonance 
of different processes and changes as well as new 
development and progress possibilities, which may be 
based upon the synchronization of different processes 
and changes.

It is obvious that regularities of unsynchronized 
development and the expression of resonance effects are 
assessed as extremely important when solving the problems 
of the sustainable development:

• unsynchronized development reflects the assumptions 
for the sustainable  development problems to appear, 
as well as the possibilities to purposefully regulate 
pace and extent of different development processes 
and changes, and at the same time adequately react to 
various disproportions and inequalities,

• the expression of resonance effects reflects undesirable 
consequences of unharmonious or insufficiently 
sustainable  development, as well as the possibilities to 
purposefully concentrate various management effects, 
which are intended to react to the development, progress 
and change processes, which require correction. 

It must be emphasized that the circumstances of regularities 
of unsynchronized development and the expression of 
resonance effects in all cases require exceptional attention 
when trying to adequately perceive, identify and solve the 
problems of the sustainable development. 

Regularities, which express the needs to activate 
innovations, stimulate creativity, and strengthen adaptation 
and tolerance skills, generally reflect the main challenges, 
which arise under the conditions of global transformations. 
These regularities reflect general tendency, which shows, that 
there is an increasing significance for the needs, which are 
intended to:

• activate innovations and stimulate creativity by reacting 
to new challenges and new problems, including the 
problems of the harmonious development, under the 
conditions of global transformations;

• strengthen adaptation and tolerance skills, because, 
under the conditions of globalization, there is a strong 
need to adapt to new circumstances and adapt various 
systems to new requirements, as well as tolerate 

various changes by reacting to them rationally, and by 
regarding the attitudes of the sustainable  development.

The above-mentioned regularities of global transformations 
are assessed as very important when trying to adequately 
perceive and solve the problems of the creation of knowledge 
based society and knowledge economy. Of course, regarding 
the complexity and variety of global transformations, as a unit, 
it is possible to make an assumption, that other regularities 
may be highlighted apart from the ones mentioned above. 

The knowledge based society and knowledge economy 
creation could be defined as priority in the system of global 
transformations processes.  In this case the phenomena of the 
knowledge based society and knowledge economy as well as 
the trends and the concepts of the knowledge based society and 
knowledge economy creation processes should be analyzed in 
the context of processes of global transformations.

In order to substantiate the appropriate definitions and 
descriptions, it is necessary to regard the following: 

• when describing a certain society, the underlying 
attention must be paid to the highlighting of the most 
important values, typical of the society itself,

• when describing a certain economy, the underlying 
attention must be paid to the highlighting of the most 
important factors of the economy growth.

It is possible to claim that it is purposeful to describe 
the concepts of the knowledge-based society and knowledge 
economy as follows:

• the knowledge based society is the society which is 
characterized by the values of the predominance of 
creativity and creative activity, as well as the values, 
which express the generation, spread and use of 
new  knowledge. In the knowledge based society, the 
underlying interests express the objectives to create, 
spread and use new products of art, technical, business 
and other creation, as well as initiate, generate and 
implement multiple creative ideas and innovations in 
all areas of life.

• the knowledge economy is the economy, for which the 
underlying growth factor is the potential, intended for 
the generation, spread and use of the new knowledge, 
as well as the activation of creativity. The raising and 
possession of the abilities to create, spread and use new 
knowledge, ideas and innovations in all areas of life, as 
well as the incessant raise of the economical efficiency 
with the acceleration and activation means of the 
science and technological progress are the underlying 
conditions for economic growth and modernization in 
the knowledge economy.

The provided descriptions of the concepts reflect the 
main orientations of values, which express the objectives 
of creativity, creation activation and new knowledge 
generation, typical of the knowledge based society, as well 
as the main features, which characterize the significance of 
the new knowledge generation, innovation and science and 
technological progress, typical of the knowledge economy. 

The highlighting of the underlying values, which are 
typical of the knowledge based society and which express 
the domination of creative activity, generation, spread and 
use of new knowledge, allows realizing that the essential 
internal contradiction of the knowledge based society is the 
contradiction among the society members, groups, layers and 



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53

variously identified subjects, which belong to two different 
categories: 

• one category is the society members, groups, layers 
and subjects, who become leaders, able to initiate the 
creation of new knowledge, ideas and innovations, 
participate in multiple creation actively, intensively 
and productively, develop creative activity, generate, 
spread and efficiently use the new knowledge and ideas. 
The society members, groups, layers and subjects, who 
belong to this category, generally take over the real 
power in the society and carry out the functions of its 
development and progress. What is more, the creation 
and spread of the new knowledge, ideas and innovations 
generally express the prerogative of making progress 
oriented  decisions, especially strategic ones, 

• the other category is the society members, groups, layers 
and subjects, who lose or do not have real possibilities 
to initiate the creation of new knowledge, ideas and 
innovations, do not have real conditions and skills to 
participate in the creation actively and intensively, to 
develop creative activity independently, or to generate, 
spread and efficiently use the new knowledge and 
ideas. The society members, groups, layers and 
subjects that belong to this category generally become 
just ordinary effectors, who have very limited power 
and only perform the functions of effectors, including 
even those areas, where huge innovation changes take 
place. 

The above-mentioned contradiction reflects the internal 
differentiation logic, typical for the knowledge based society, 
when the position of different members, groups, layers or 
subjects of the society is determined by the role and place when 
initiating, generating, spreading and using new knowledge, 
ideas and innovations. Besides, the expression of the above-
mentioned contradiction is universal: this contradiction may 
be perceived -s appearing in the lives of separate countries 
and regions, and as the one, which appears in separate groups 
or layers of the society, as well as the one, which may appear 
globally in the future. 

The above-mentioned contradiction reflects the meaning 
of those propulsions, which determine and will determine the 
development and progress of the knowledge based society, as 
well as the preconditions for various threats and dangers to 
appear, which may inevitably arise under the conditions of 
the knowledge based society. It is obvious, that the internal 
differentiation of the society, which expresses different role 
and place of various society members, groups, layers and 
subjects when initiating, generating, spreading and using new 
knowledge, ideas and innovations, may show itself in two 
ways:

• as propulsion, which determines further development 
and progress of the knowledge-based society, because 
the objectives to activate and effectuate creative 
processes, when initiating, generating, spreading and 
using new knowledge, ideas and innovations, become 
the underlying stimulus of the development and 
progress, and the potency activating the processes of 
development and progress,

• as a precondition for new threats and dangers to 
appear, because, under the conditions, when the society 
differentiation exceeds certain critical limits, there 

inevitably appear various tendencies of the destructive 
manner, including the tendencies to integrate various 
means, based on the use of the newest science and 
technological progress results, into destructive 
processes. 

The internal contradictions, typical of the knowledge 
based society, influence the processes of knowledge economy 
creation and development. The underlying conditions 
for economic growth and modernization, typical of the 
knowledge economy, which include education and possession 
of the abilities to create, spread and use new knowledge, ideas 
and innovations, as well as increase economic efficiency 
with the acceleration and activation means of science and 
technological progress, may be assessed in two ways:

• as the propulsion, typical of the development and 
progress of the knowledge economy, which reflects the 
influence of the initiation, generation, spread and use 
of the new knowledge, ideas and innovations, as well 
as of the results of science and technological progress, 
on the growth and effectuation of the economy itself, 

• as the precondition for the new threats, dangers and risks 
to appear, which are characteristic of the knowledge-
based society and knowledge economy and which 
may cause various undesirable negative results of the 
knowledge economy development and progress, which 
appear or may appear in various sectors of economic 
life as well as in various areas of the society’s life and 
development in general. 

It must be emphasized, that the essential principles to 
be implemented under the conditions of the creation and 
modernization of the knowledge based society and knowledge 
economy reflect the aim to create favorable conditions to get 
synergy effects and to use them, as well as to create favorable 
circumstances to generate new synergy effects. In general, 
it is possible to claim, that the creation and modernization 
processes of the knowledge based society and knowledge 
economy may be assessed as the complex expression of the 
synergy effects. 

It must be noted, that the described regularities and 
aspects reflect the complex problems of the social, political, 
economic, technological development, which inevitably 
appear under the creation and development conditions of the 
knowledge based society and knowledge economy, and allow 
highlighting and reasoning the priorities of these problems 
salvation, especially – in the European Union. 

Conclusions

The research on the processes of the knowledge based 
society creation in the European Union and on the problems of 
complexity of the global transformations and the knowledge 
based society creation could be defined as an important 
scientific research area, especially – as an important and 
significant object of social science. 

The research on the processes and problems of the 
knowledge based society and knowledge economy creation 
in the context of global transformations could be defined as 
especially important scientific research area in the conditions 
of the intensive European integration and enlargement of the 
European Union.

The processes of the creation of knowledge based society 
and knowledge economy in the context of globalization 



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54

should be understood as the undivided unity. These 
processes are an important priority of the social, economic 
and technological changes and development processes, 
especially - in the European Union. These processes should 
be perceived as relevant to all spheres of life – meaning 
social, economic and political life, culture, advancement of 
science and technologies, interaction with nature in general 
and environment in particular. These processes should be 
comprehended as the ones providing social, cultural, political, 
economic, technological preconditions for modernization of 
the society and refinement of its life in accordance with the 
modern future oriented standards, norms and values.  

The processes of the creation of knowledge based society 
and knowledge economy in the context of globalization 
should be interpreted as multi-dimensional and extremely 
complex and uninterrupted global process which manifests 
itself in cyclical changes and leaps towards higher quality 
standards, norms and values. The idea of complexity of the 
global transformations  and the knowledge based society 
creation  should be implemented in all stages of scientific 
research, studies and practical activities, including the 
prioritizing various programs on multi- and cross-disciplinary 
research and studies, as well as strategic solutions of the 
complex character in various stages.

The processes of the creation of knowledge based society 
and knowledge economy in the context of globalization 
could be interpreted and analyzed as an important global 
transformation. The global transformations in general, as well 
as the processes of the creation of knowledge based society and 
knowledge economy could be analyzed in the context of the 
ideas of synergy effects: in general, the global transformations 
and the processes of knowledge based society and knowledge 
economy creation may be attributed to the category of global 
transformation and synergy effects oriented development 
processes.   

Global transformation processes are characterized by a 
wide variety and may be identified and classified according 
to various features: features, which characterize natural and 
climate conditions, as well as their influence on various global 
changes and situation, features, which characterize human 
resources, their potential, change of its structure, as well as 
global role of human resources, features, which characterize 
the society, its development, structure, change dynamics, as 
well as features, which help to describe various types and 
models of the society itself and its organization, and global 
spread and spread dynamics of these types and models, 
features, which characterize global variety and spread of 
cultures, mentalities, value systems, models of lifestyle, and 
social behavior stereotypes, features, which characterize 
the processes of social, political, economic development, as 
well as science and technological progress, the impact and 
consequences of these processes, which appear or may appear 
globally.

The impacts of global transformations on the 
modern society in general and on the changes in its life, 
development and progress are multiple, complicated and 
even contradictory. Several circumstances determine 
the multiplicity and complication of the impact of global 
transformations on the society and changes in its life. The 
global transformations themselves are characterized by a 
variety of typical features, which inevitably conditions the 

multiplicity and complication of these transformations and 
their impact. The global transformations, as a unit, may be 
identified as composing different geographically regional 
or sectoral systems: the variety of different geographically 
regional or sectoral systems reflects the multiplicity and 
complication of the impact of global transformations on the 
society and changes in its life. Controversial tendencies, 
when certain development, progress and change processes 
evoke positively and negatively assessed results, inevitably 
appear under the conditions of the variety, multiplicity and 
complication of the global transformations and their impact 
on the society and changes in its life.  All in all, it is possible to 
claim, that global transformations, as a unit, are characterized 
by exceptional complication, variety and multiplicity, as well 
as great impacts on all changes, which take place in all areas 
of life, their content and trajectories.

Global transformations, their expression and influence 
on the modern society and its life are characterized by wide 
variety and significant common regularities. 

 By the creating knowledge based society and generating 
knowledge economy and its further development in the 
context of globalization and in the conditions of the 
European integration and enlargement of the European 
Union harmonization should be sought in the following: in 
the fields of various social, economic, political development, 
culture, advancement in science and technologies, interplay 
with nature and other fields; in the environment of changes 
in various countries, regions or otherwise geographically or 
regionally defined systems; in changes occurring in various 
layers in society.

Creation and modernization of the knowledge based 
society and knowledge economy are very complicated 
processes, oriented to the formation of the new quality society 
and qualitatively new lifestyle. Moreover, these processes 
may be described as “twice” as complicated, because they 
win distinction by orientations to the pursuit of new quality 
in two aspects: 

• the knowledge based society and knowledge economy, 
compared to “traditional” society and economy, are in 
all cases described as qualitatively new,

• creation and development of the knowledge based 
society and knowledge economy takes place under the 
conditions of the global changes, which means that 
qualitative changes take place in all global space, the 
essence of those changes is the creation and spread of 
the knowledge based society and knowledge economy.

The creation and development processes of the knowledge 
based society and knowledge economy may be attributed to 
the category of global transformation processes, therefore 
all general phenomena, and characteristic of global 
transformations in general, are unconditionally typical of the 
creation and development of the knowledge based society and 
knowledge economy.  Specific phenomena reflect exceptional 
peculiarities typical of the creation and development processes 
of the knowledge based society and knowledge economy. 

The research of the problems of creation of the 
knowledge based society and knowledge economy is multi- 
and interdisciplinary by nature, they must inevitably have 
attitudes to social and economic development, progress 
in technologies, environmental protection and changes in 
the modern society and its life, which reflect various areas 



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55

of science, integrated in them. An important aspect of the 
research on creation of the knowledge based society and 
knowledge economy is a regional one, since various social, 
economic, technological, ecological factors are assessed in 
the extent of variously identified regions, by trying to reveal 
the interaction of processes and changes of different nature in 
various regional systems herewith: this aspect is especially 
important in the conditions of the intensive European 
integration and enlargement of the European Union.

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The article has been reviewed.

Received in April, 2011; accepted in June, 2011.