The paper presents a system of related concepts (“integration” and “disintegration”, “regionalization” and “regionalism”) and proposes an interpretation of the term “international integration”. The history, principles and theoretical foundations of classical and new European concepts of international integration are considered as a useful background for studying and evaluating non-European models of integration. The author lists the main risks and prospects of modern integration processes, which should be taken into account in the course of further development of European and alternative theories of international integration.