The article deals with the changing role and profile of nation states in response to the challenges of economic globalization. Historically states, particularly in Europe, were commonly represented as being «sovereign», or even «omnipotent»; despite their different histories, different roles and different legal languages. Typically, in continental Europe, States spoke especially through legislation, but this normative language proved unfit to respond to the needs of a «new economy» based on technology and markets. This has led to a reinvention and a downsizing in the role of the nation state, in accordance with the needs of markets. The article identifies four main strategies of downsizing the role of states: a strategy of self-reduction of powers and tasks traditionally within the purview of states; a shift from government to governance; a new geopolitical stance based on multilateralism and, finally, the strategy of dovetailing the role of states to markets. All strategies that converged toward a growing de-politicization of states.