thayer asia pacific regionalism

8/14/2019 Thayer Asia Pacific Regionalism

1/18

What is the AsiaWhat is the Asia--Pacific Region?Pacific Region?

Professor Carl ThayerProfessor Carl Thayer

Presentation toPresentation to

Centre ofCentre ofDefenceDefence and Strategic Studiesand Strategic Studies

AustralianAustralian DefenceDefence CollegeCollegeMarch 10, 2009March 10, 2009


2/18

What is a region? Two ViewsWhat is a region? Two Views

A region is a territory that is unified by a set ofA region is a territory that is unified by a set ofcommon factors such a geographical proximity,common factors such a geographical proximity,climate, economic integration, trade, culture,climate, economic integration, trade, culture,

religion, shared history and/or strategicreligion, shared history and/or strategicinteraction.interaction.

A region is an artificial geoA region is an artificial geo--political constructpolitical construct

designed by statesmen, academics and othersdesigned by statesmen, academics and others(military and businessmen) to serve a specific(military and businessmen) to serve a specific

policy purpose.policy purpose.


3/18

Gareth Evans Eastern HemisphereGareth EvansGareth EvansEastern HemisphereEastern Hemisphere


4/18

What is a region?What is a region?

A level of analysis between the systemicA level of analysis between the systemic(global) level and nation(global) level and nation--state levelstate level

A way of ordering world politics byA way of ordering world politics by

drawing boundaries.drawing boundaries. Boundaries determine membership; theyBoundaries determine membership; they

serve to include as well as exclude.serve to include as well as exclude.

Regions require a sense of regionalism orRegions require a sense of regionalism orregional identityregional identity


5/18

TheTheregionregionand the United Nationsand the United Nations

Chapter VIChapter VI regional agenciesregional agencies have a rolehave a rolein managing security subject to the overallin managing security subject to the overall

authority of the UNauthority of the UN

Chapter VIII members enjoined to settleChapter VIII members enjoined to settlelocal disputes peacefully throughlocal disputes peacefully through regionalregional

arrangementsarrangements before taking up issue withbefore taking up issue withSecurity Council.Security Council.


6/18

Evolving Conception of Asia-Pacific as a region


7/18

AsiaAsia--Pacific: whatPacific: whats in a name?s in a name? AsiaAsia

The PacificThe Pacific Asia PacificAsia Pacific AsiaAsia--PacificPacific Pacific AsiaPacific Asia Pacific BasinPacific Basin

Pacific RimPacific Rim

PacificPacificCommunityCommunity

East AsiaEast Asia East AsianEast Asian

SummitSummit

AsiaAsia--PacificPacificCommunityCommunity


8/18

Evolving Conception of Asia-Pacificas a region

Colonial eraColonial era The Far EastThe Far East

PanPan--AsianismAsianismAsia for theAsia for theAsiaticsAsiatics

Washington Conference 1921Washington Conference 1921--2222

JapanJapans Greater East Asia Cos Greater East Asia Co--prosperityprosperity

Sphere (1940)Sphere (1940) War in the Pacific (1941War in the Pacific (1941--45)45)


9/18

U.S. Pacific Command (1947)U.S. Pacific Command (1947)


10/18

Evolving Conception of Asia-Pacificas a region

1966 Asian Development Bank1966 Asian Development Bank 1960s Pacific Community concept1960s Pacific Community concept

PAFTAD 1968, PBEC 1969PAFTAD 1968, PBEC 1969

19741974 UN Economic and SocialCommission for Asia and the Pacific

1980 Pacific Economic CooperationCouncil - tripartite

1989 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation


11/18

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation


12/18

ASEAN-Driven Regionalism

1967 Association of South East AsianNations (ASEAN)

1994 ASEAN Regional Forum 1997 ASEAN Plus Three China, Japan, KoreaChina, Japan, Korea

2005 East Asia Summit2005 East Asia Summit

2020 Asia2020 Asia--Pacific Community?Pacific Community?


13/18

ASEAN (not Asian) Regional Forum


14/18

AsiaAsia--Pacific Region:Pacific Region:Integrative FactorsIntegrative Factors

GlobalizationGlobalization Growth of intraGrowth of intra--regional traderegional trade

Sea lines of communicationSea lines of communication United States economic and securityUnited States economic and security

presencepresence

Multilateral institutionsMultilateral institutions Ideational factors and normsIdeational factors and norms


15/18

AsiaAsia--Pacific Region:Pacific Region:Factors of FragmentationFactors of Fragmentation

RegionRegionvv-- subsub--regionregion Divided states (Korea, China)Divided states (Korea, China)

Conflicting territorial claimsConflicting territorial claims Rogue states (Myanmar, North Korea)Rogue states (Myanmar, North Korea)

SocioSocio--economic disparitieseconomic disparities

Arc of instabilityArc of instabilityand potential failedand potential failedstatesstates


16/18

Kevin Rudds Asia Pacific Community

We need to have a vision for an Asia Pacific

Community, a vision that embraces: A regional institution which spans the entire Asia-

Pacific region including the United States, Japan,

China, India, Indonesia and the other states of theregion

A regional institution which is able to engage in thefull spectrum of dialogue, cooperation and action on

economic and political matters and future challengesto security

Its Time to Build an Ania Pacific Community, Address to theAsia Society AustralAsia Centre, Sydney, June 4, 2008


17/18

TheTheregionregionand the United Nationsand the United NationsBased on tradition, UN members areBased on tradition, UN members are organisedorganised

into five regional groups mainly for theinto five regional groups mainly for thepurposes of nominating candidates for election.purposes of nominating candidates for election.

These groups are:These groups are:

1.1. AfricaAfrica

2.2. AsiaAsia

3.3. Eastern EuropeEastern Europe

4.4. Latin America and the CaribbeanLatin America and the Caribbean

5.5. Western Europe and Others GroupWestern Europe and Others Group (includes(includes

Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UnitedAustralia, Canada, New Zealand and the United

States)States)


18/18

Professor Carl Thayer

[email protected]

thayer asia pacific regionalism

Documents