Asian Regionalism
Let’s focus on the Asian continent
What is Asian Regionalism
A political ideology that favors a specific region over a greater area.
It usually the results due to political separations, religion, geography, cultural boundaries, linguistic region and
managerial divisions.
What is the difference of Regionalization and globalization?
Regionalization
A process of dividing an area into smaller segments called regions.
Globalization
A process by which the people of the word are united into single society and function together
Next concept we have the Regionalization vs. Globalization
As to nature, globalization promotes the integration of economies across state borders all around the world but
regionalization is precisely opposite because it is dividing an area into smaller segments.
As to market, globalization allows many companies to trade on international level so it allows free market but in
regionalized system, monopolies are likely to develop.
As to cultural and societal relations, globalization accelerate to multiculturalism by free and expensive
movement of people but, regionalization does not support this
As to aid, globalized international community is also more willing to come to the aid of a country stricken by a
natural disaster but, a regionalized system does not get involved in the affairs of other areas.
As to technological advances, globalization has driven great advances in technology is rarely available in one
country or region.
Another concept is……..
Regionalism
It is the theory or practice of regional rather than central systems of administrative of economic cultural or
political affiliation.
Regionalization
The division of a nation into states or province
Why countries form regional organization?
They form regional organization as a way of coping with the challenges of globalization.
Tanaka and Inoguchi (1996) articulated that after the Cold War, the relations between nations have been dynamic and
unique as characterized by the following:
1. Countries tend to rely on global platforms such as the United Nations in resolving regional conflicts, thus paving the
way for the emergence of peacekeeping initiatives and regional trade alliances.
Nations nowadays become more agreeable, as indicated by less profound armed conflicts and wars among
nations. Conflicts between nations are still present (e.g. territorial disputes). These territorial disputes have implications
on assertion of political powers in a certain region. In the past, conflicts could have been resolved outright by bloody
wars, but in the contemporary world. Nations are using diplomatic means to mitigate the possibility of wars.
Examples of existing territorial conflicts:
West-Philippine Sea or South China Sea (China vs. Several nations including the Philippines)
Korean Peninsula (North and South Korea)
Preah Vihear dispute (Thailand vs. Cambodia)
2. Emerge of regional cooperation among countries to achieve political and economic goals. Countries have become
more open to collaborate with other countries in terms of economic and human development.
Examples:
Economic development – grants, loans, development assistance
Human development – scholarships, cultural exchange, people to people interactions
3. Nations commitment to their cultural identities.
Huntington (1996) argues that in the post-Cold war. There has been a shift from western countries to a group of nations
with similar cultural identities. Nations are becoming more committed to other nations which cultural identity they
share.
Asian Regionalism
A product of economic interaction between Asian countries.
As a result of
Asian economies have grown not only richer, but also closer together.
New technological trends have further strengthened ties among them, as have the rise of the China and India
and the region’s growing weight in the global economy.
The 1997/1998 financial crises dealt a severe seatback too much of the region, highlighting Asia’s shared
interests and common vulnerabilities and providing an impetus for regional cooperation.
In the early stages of Asia’s economic take off, regional integration proceeded slowly. East Asian economies
focused on exporting to developed country markets.
The Japanese economist Akamatsu(1962) famously compared this pattern of development to flying geese. In
this model, economies moved in formation not because they were directly linked to each other, but because
they followed similar paths.
Now, Asian economies are becoming closely intertwined.
Interdependence is deepening because Asia’s economies have grown large and prosperous enough to become
important to each other, and because their patterns of production increasingly depend on networks that span
several Asian economies and involve wide ranging exchanges of parts and components among them.
Moving on the factors leading to the greater integration of the Asian regions
Regional integration is a process in which neighboring states enter into an agreement in order to upgrade
cooperation through common institutions and rules.
The objectives of the agreement could range from economic to political to environmental, although it has
typically taken the form of a political economy initiative.
Regional integration has been organized either via supranational institutional structures or through
intergovernmental decision-making, or a combination of both
Regional integration has often focused on removing barriers to free trade in the region, increasing the free
movement of people, labor, goods, and capital across national borders, reducing the possibility of regional
armed conflict and adopting cohesive regional stances on policy issues, such as the environment, climate change
and migration.
Intra-regional trade refers to trade which focuses on economic exchange primarily between countries of the
same region or economic zone.
In recent years, countries within economic-trade regimes such as ASEAN is Southeast Asia for example have
increased the level of trade commodity exchange between themselves which reduces the inflation and tariff
barriers associated with foreign markets resulting in growing prosperity.
What is the purpose of ASEAN?
it is to promote economic and cultural exchange among its member countries maintain peace and stability in
southeast Asia and establish relationships with foreign powers with similar aims.
