Abstract
This paper argues that, not with standing the different meanings attributed to the concept of region, and not with standing the different ways in which regional integration manifestates itself, there is a meaningful essence to ‘region’ and ‘regional integration’. By introducing the neologism of ‘regionhood’ as well as a metaphor from psychology on what constitutes regionhood, a social constructionist approach to regions is outlined that should constitute a firm basis to a truly interdisciplinary study of regionalism and regionalisation.
