REGIONALISM IN ASIA

The encylopedia of international reltions and global politics defines regionalism

intensifying poltical or economic processes of coorporation among states and other actors in
particular regins. After world war two, regionalist movement increase everywhere in world.
World war two was very harmful for economy and world peace. To rebuild econmy, states in
particular places began to work together. Interactions and relations between states in same
region increased wtih regionalist policies. States established institutions for sustaning
relations. EU and ASEAN are best example of this institutions. Regionalism has been very
successful in Europe becuase all western Europe states moved together during cold war. They
assited each other in terms of economic, social and poltical. Although ASEAN played key role
in regionalism in Asia, reginalism is new issue for Asia. Unity in Asia could not be achieved
because of cold war. States in Asia were siplint into two sides: communist and anti
communists. There are two leaders states in Asia: China and Japan. These states are in a
conflict becasue of cold war. This situation affected economic and social developmet in this
region. Asian Relations Conference was the fisrt attemp to provide unity in Asia.
Acharya(2012) says that main porpuse of this conference is to create poltical pressure
decolonization and to create a new unitiy between independent countries(p.7).

Regionalism can be achived if states establis good economic, poltical and social
relatinos. ASEAN played important role to develop regionalism in Asia. ASEAN was
established 8 august 1967 in Bangkok by five original members states : Indonesia, Malesia,
Philippines, and Tailand and Singapore. ASEAN were established for speeding economic
developmnt, to overcome social problems in region and to promote regional peace. ASEAN
also has security policies creating like nuclear weopans free zone in Asia. ASEAN provided to

develop economy of this region. USA states work as a ledear in this region. USA conribute to
rebuilding of this states after de colonization process. Porpuse of USA was to strong this
region aginst to communist threat. This situation contribute to economic development of
region. After the cold war, stiuation changed because China and Japan are more powerful and
they can play leader role in this region.

Neo fuctinoal policies can be play important role in integrity of Asia. Neo
functionalism is a regional integration theory. European Union used this theory for regional
integration. Neo functionalism claim that relatinos between states transport supranational
level. They think that spillover can be acclareted wih tihs way. States are not amin octor of
this spillpver. Main actors in this situation are interests groups.

For example, econmic

spillover can be achieved by big companies and liberal economies. In this situation ,
economic relations will increase. Then political integrity will emerge as a consequences of
economic spillover. Economic, poltical and social issues are in a harmony.

In this case, institutions are very important. Accrording to neo liberal institutionalism,
institutions like EU and ASEAN can increase collabration between states. Unlike realists, neo
liberals claim that states are not only main actors in international relations. Also , institutions
and non governental organizations can play important role in region integirty. In Asia,
ASEAN is most powerful organization but it is not enough to provide to coorporation
between states. China and Japan are not members of ASEAN. These two states have
important economic and political power so East Asian countries establish a new organizatino
like European Union. China and Japan should be part of this organization.

Regionnalism emerged under affect of cold war so regionalist policies applied only
specific ares like Europe. However, after cold war , globalization gain importance and began
to effect affairs in international relations. Regionalism turned into new regionalism. New
regionalism are began to used in 80s. Differences between old and new regionalism is that
old regionalism has state based structure but new regionalism accept importance of non
govermental organization. Globalization process increased importance of institutions. Also ,
consurvatism is part of the new regionalism. Creating ideas and norms are very important for
constructivist because integrity can be permenant in this way. Cultural integrity is so
important to connect between states. China have big impact on Asian culture. China used
tributary system to manage East Asian countries in past. This situation provided to spread
Chinese culture whole East Asia. China controled economic and politcal life in this rregion.
Also , China impose its culture and norms in this area. In today. This situation can be
adventage for establishing good relations in this region.

To sum up , In todays Asian countries have huge chance to develop regional interests.
Firstly, they can established strong intitutional system in this region. ASEAN is very
important but it is not enough to orginize relations between states in Southeast Asia. European
Union played important role to provide integrity in Europe. EU are take an example by
Southeast Asian countries. China and Japan have big duty which is that they should be leaders
of these states becasue China and Japan have powerful economic and political relations.
China became dialogue country in ASEAN in 1996. It is s important to develop relaitons
China and ASEAN countries. Also, Japan has lifted visa requirement between Tailand,
Malesia, Indonesia , Vietnam and Philippines in 2013. All these events are very benefical for
establishing good relations. Culture is other important issue because cultural interections
strong connections between society in this region. China has great cultural impact on this

region so this situation should be used for craeting common norms and ideas in this region.
Regionalism in Southeast Asia will be more powerful f countries establish good relations in
terms of economic, politcal and social.

REFERENCES
1. Acharya, A. ( February 12, 2012). Foundations of Collective Action in Asia: Theory and
Practice of Regional Cooperation. Asian Development Bank Institute : Tokyo
2. Acharya, A. (2012). Comparative Regionalism: A field Whose Time has Come?, The
International Spectator: Italian Journal of International Affairs, 47:1, 3-15
3.Brenner, N. (1994). Theory and Soceity. Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the
Netherlands. p 679-709
4. Capannelli, V. ( April, 2009). ASIA and EUROPE: Comparing Approaches to Regionalism.
Retrieved from http://development.asia/issue03/default.asp
5. Vayrynen , R. (2003). Regionalism: Old and New. University of Notre Dame and Helsinki
Collegium for Advanced Studies,University of Helsinki. p , 2551