ASIAN REGIONALISM

In Contemporary World
Introduction

 China is the home of more than 1.4 billion people based on the 2018
population projection of the United Nations. In fact, it is becoming
one of the economic super giants of the world. After the Second
World War, Japan was able to adapt its policies to the dictates of the
West and consequently incorporated itself to the global economy.
On the other hand, Singapore has become one of the emerging
centers of different cultures and has turned itself into a great
cosmopolitan city-state. All these countries belong to the continent
of Asia, a term that originated from the West, particularly from
Ancient Greece.
Introduction

 Among all the continents, Asia has the biggest population of at least
two-thirds of the world's inhabitants. It is most probably because the
continent comprises one-third of the world's land mass. In terms of
economy, emerging and developing Asian countries and the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations 5 or the ASEAN 5 (Indonesia,
Malaysia. Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand) had an average of
6.3% and 5.1% GDP growth, respectively, compared to the world
average growth of 3.5% as of 2016 (Obiols, 2017). In 2016, China
was the world's leading exporter of goods valued at $1.99 trillion,
followed by the United States with $1.45 trillion (Dillinger, 2018).
Introduction
Introduction

 Since the European Union is in its mature state of regionalism, the world
is now focused on Asia. Most countries want to have collaborations with
East Asian countries and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) members because economic and political growth in these
regions have started to shape up. As a result, the United States
strategically takes care of its allies in Asia to maintain and further
enhance its supply of raw materials, human technological skills, and even
its military force. At the same time, Europe keeps its strong relationship
with Asian countries to expand its growing business in the field of
medical science and research. It cannot be denied that Asia is gaining
worldwide attention.
Introduction

What makes Asian nations stronger than ever is the establishment of

collaborations and cooperation based on respect. For one, the ASEAN,
as a regional bloc, pays full respect for sovereignty and independence
of its members through consensus and consultation (Eliassen &
Arnadottir, 2012).
In this light, globalization, regionalization, and regionalism are
compared. Also, exposure to the different factors that bring about
better homogenization of Asia and how member-states collectively and
separately address the challenges they are facing are discussed.
Regionalization vs Globalization

 The terms regionalization and globalization are both related to integration.

Globalization is the expansion and intensification of social relations and
consciousness across world-time and world-space. Regionalization, on the other
hand, is "the growth of societal integration within a region and to the often
undirected processes of social and economic interaction" (Hurrel, 1995). In terms of
scope, it is very clear that globalization is borderless. It happens around the world
while regionalization happens only in a specific geographical region. Social and
economic reciprocal actions of regionalization are undirected because of diversity.
This diversity comes in different levels of development (from the rich Singapore to
the poor Laos), politics (from democracy to dictatorship and everything in between),
economics (from free markets to capitalism and more), and religion (Buddhism,
Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Shintoism, and more) (Richter & West, 2014).
Regionalization vs Regionalism

 Commonly confused with regionalization, regionalism refers to regional

concentration of economic flows while regionalization refers to a political
process by economic policy if cooperation and coordination are present
among countries (Mansfield & Wilmer, 1993). Regionalism also pertains to
the process of intergovernmental collaborations between two or more states
(Eliassen & Arnadottir, 2012).
 Asian regionalism is a new concept among the continental communities.
New to cooperation and collaboration goals, it has the 50-year-old ASEAN
group and the failed East Asia Economic Group (EAEG). The ASEAN
community is comprised of three pillars-political security community,
economic community, and socio-cultural community.
Political Security

 The political security community gives importance to human rights, drugs,

foreign relations, defense, law, and transnational crimes. The association
adheres to significant roles of monitoring-economic ministers, finance
ministers, central bank governors, free trade area, investment area, agriculture
and forestry, transport ministers, telecommunications and information
technology ministers, science and technology, energy, minerals, tourism, free
trade agreements with dialogue partners, and sectoral bodies in the arena of
economic community. In the socio-cultural community, there is an avenue for
cooperation among the ministers responsible for culture and arts, sports,
disaster management, education, environment, health, information, labor, rural
development and poverty eradication, women, youth, and civil service matters.
Asian Regionalism

ASEAN has also partnered with three East Asian countries(China, Japan, and South
Korea). It is called the ASEAN +3. Its goal is to address the 1997 Asian financial crisis
and help each other cope with the crisis. In this context, ASEAN has concretized
regionalism in the Asian region.
Similar to the goal of ASEAN in achieving greater integration within the region, other
countries form groups for various reasons. The North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA), a free trade pact between Canada and the United States (now including
Mexico), was created to help reduce trading costs, increase business investment, and help
North America be more competitive in the global marketplace (NAFTA, 2018).
On the other hand, the European Union (EU) is a political and economic established to
ensure free movement of people, goods, services, and capital within the EU's single
market (EU, 2018a). Moreover, there are some aspects that led to a greater Asian
integration.
Aspects that led to a greater Asian integration.

 First, integration has been market-driven. Within Asia, there are a variety of systems, institutions, procedures,
social relations, and infrastructures that are put into place for countries to engage in exchange. Emerging and
developing economies in Japan, China, South Korea, and other Asian countries get the labor services of
Filipino skilled workers. Southeast Asians market their goods within the region. Thailand exports its grocery
products to 24-hour convenience stores. Vietnam and Indonesia sell their bags and clothing to the region. It
was only in recent years that teamwork among Asian governments has been exerted, though with a certain
distance.
 Second, formal institutions such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) were established. Conceived in the
1960s, ADB promotes social and economic development in Asia. Composed of 67 members, 48 of which are
from the Asia-Pacific region, the financial institution aids its members and partners by providing loans,
technical assistance, grants, and equity investments. Initially, ADB focused its assistance on food production
and rural development to serve a predominantly agricultural region.
 Third, economic grants and overseas development assistance are made available by better Asian economies.
For example, the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) aims to work on human security and
quality growth. The agency targets to promote international cooperation and the development of the Japanese
and global economy by supporting the socio-economic development, recovery, or economic stability of
developing regions.
Aspects that led to a greater Asian integration.

 Fourth, production networks have expanded. Economies are mainly on comparative advantage
through the regional division of labor. The Philippines' major exports are electronic products
and copper products to name a few. Indonesia sells palm oil, rubber, and natural gas within the
region. South Korea produces machinery products and motor vehicles.
 Fourth, production networks have expanded. Economies are mainly on comparative advantage
through the regional division of labor. The Philippines' major exports are electronic products
and copper products to name a few. Indonesia sells palm oil, rubber, and natural gas within the
region. South Korea produces machinery products and motor vehicles.
 Fifth, cooperation among the ASEAN and East Asian countries ensued the ASEAN +3
Financial Ministers' Process that established two economic structures-the Chiang Mai Initiative
and the Asian Bond Markets Initiative. The process aims to strengthen policy dialogue,
coordination, and collaboration on common financial, monetary, and fiscal issues.
 Last, if EU is rules-based, ASEAN follows a consensus rule as an approach to decision
making. This process prevents collision of cultural beliefs and economic policies that are
understandably not easy to unite because of the region's diversity of archipelagic lives.
Asian Development Bank

 In facing the challenges brought about by globalization, Asian countries

have responded with regional alternatives as big group, small group, and
local communities.
 As a big group, Asian countries established their own Asian Development
Bank (ADB) that is more focused on Asia and the Pacific as a reaction to
global economic integration, Japan, the forerunner of the institution,
believes that investments can be a factor to social development.
Consequently, Japan is a major contributor to ADB. Asian nations work in
the form of loans, grants, and information sharing on topics such as
terrorism and regional security.
 More so, Asian countries respond to globalization as a small group. Asian regionalism lacks
institutions and bureaucratic bodies to serve the region unlike the European Union model of single
market in goods and services. As a result, individual countries do bilateral or multilateral agreements.
For example, the Philippines has standing bilateral agreements with China in trade, defense,
infrastructure, transnational crimes, tourism, education, health, and many others. In fact, in the recent
visit of current Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to China, Chinese leaders expressed their support
for the president's campaign against illegal drugs and terrorism, among others.
 Another reaction comes from China, India, and Japan as important regional players. They initiate
concrete dialogue in formulating visions. shared goals, and roadmaps for regional cooperation in Asia.
 Reaction to globalization (and the West) also gave rise to terrorist groups, like the Islamic State of Iraq
and Syria (ISIS) which has spread to the Muslim communities in Southern Philippines, Indonesia, and
Malaysia. To combat global terrorism, these countries made use of their available resources to
minimize and ultimately stop the effects on civilian-victims such as displacement and suffering. More
so, they reached military multilateral agreements to address this common problem. In 2017, the
Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia had a trilateral security meeting wherein they agreed that they
need to conduct joint navy patrols within their boundaries to prevent the entry and exit of the terror
group (Antiporta, 2017).
ASEAN Establishment

The establishment of the ASEAN is also another initial reaction to globalization. It fosters the
spirit of regionalism and oneness of Asian nations. As a group, it sets out in the ASEAN
Declaration the following aims and purposes:
1) To accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development in the region.
2) To promote regional peace and stability.
3) To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interest.
4) To provide assistance to each other in the form of training and research facilities.
5) To collaborate more effectively for the greater utilization of their agriculture and industries.
6) To expand trade, improve their transportation and communications facilities, and raise the living
standards of their people.
7) To promote Southeast Asian Studies.
8) To maintain close and beneficial cooperation.
Reactions To Globalization

 Other reactions to globalization came in the form of disengagement

from globalization that transpired locally. Santi Suk village in Thailand
created its own currency, called the bia, that was regulated by a central
bank in a village. This homemade currency can only be used in
participating villages, and cannot be exchanged for Thailand's baht. This
trend is a manifestation of self-sufficiency movements that emerged
after the Asian financial crisis of 1997. Other forms of disengagement
appeared in the formation of self-sufficiency groups, community-owned
rice mills, and cooperative shops; the gathering of traditional herbal
practitioners; and the preference for local products (Kimura, 2014).
Conclusion

 To conclude, globalization and regionalization are the same

for they refer to integration. Their difference lies on the
scope. Globalization is worldwide, while regionalization
focuses on a specific geographical region. As a response to
world homogenization and division, regionalism that comes
in various forms of regional alternatives to globalization
spawned within and among regions in Asia. Asian
integration did not happen based only on one historical event
for there were different factors that led to this alliance