Asian-Regionalism_Reporting.docx

**ASIAN REGIONALISM** **Regionalism and Regionalization?** Regionalism is a political ideology that favors a specific region over a greater area. Regionalization is the process of dividing an area into smaller segments called regions. **Regions** According to Edward D. Mansfield and Helen V. Mi...

**ASIAN REGIONALISM** **Regionalism and Regionalization?** Regionalism is a political ideology that favors a specific region over a greater area. Regionalization is the process of dividing an area into smaller segments called regions. **Regions** According to Edward D. Mansfield and Helen V. Milner, the economic and political definitions of region that everyone can agree on is Economically, a region can be defined as a group of geographically neighboring countries or a combination of multiple regions organized to regulate and oversee flows and policy decisions. Politically, it is a political process characterized by economic policy cooperation and coordination among countries. **What is Asian Regionalism?** Asian regionalism refers to the cooperation and integration among countries in Asia to address common political, economic, and cultural goals. By collaborating as a united region, Asian countries can strengthen their collective influence in global affairs while respecting their individual differences. An example of Asian regionalism is the **Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),** a political and economic organization that promotes cooperation and integration among its member countries, which include nations like Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines. **\*What are regionalization and globalization differences?** **1. Nature** -Globalization promoted the integration of economies across state borders all around the world -while Regionalization divides an area into smaller regions. **2. Market** -Globalization allows many corporations to trade on an international level; it allows a free market. What is a free market? A free market is an unregulated system of economic exchange that requires no tariffs or just minimal. A tariff is a tax imposed by one country on imported goods and services from another country. -in regionalization, monopolies are more likely to develop. Monopoly means one producer controls the supply of goods or services, and where the entry of new producers is prevented or highly restricted. **3. Cultural and Societal Relations** -Globalization accelerates multiculturalism through the free and inexpensive movement of people while regionalization -does not support multiculturalism. Multiculturalism -- is the belief that minority cultures, races, and ethnicities deserve special recognition within a dominant political culture, ensuring all groups have equal rights and opportunities. **4. Aid** -Globalized international communities are more willing to aid countries stricken by disasters -regionalization, an area that does not get involved in the affairs of other areas. **5. Technological Advances** -globalization has driven great advances in technology. -In regionalism, advanced technology is rarely available in one country or region. **\*The factors leading to greater integration in the Asian region.** We must first understand why Countries form a regional association: **1. Military defense** -the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed to protect Europe from the threat of the Soviet Union; and as a response, the Soviet Union created the Warsaw Pact. Warsaw Pact -- formally known as the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, which was established as a balance of power or counterweight to NATO. **2. Pooling Resources.** -countries need to pool their resources together to make themselves more powerful. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) rose in power when they took over domestic production and controlled crude oil prices across the globe. **3. Economic Downturns.** -The ASEAN countries along with China, Japan, and South Korea established an emergency fund that stabilized Asian economies after the rippling effect of the Thai economy\'s collapse in 1996. The Asian Region is further integrated due to their: **1. Mutual Benefit** -when it comes to trade, these nations can readily supply each other\'s needs **2. Trade** -global trade is responsible for facilitating all the transactions. **3. Similar Culture** -Asian cultures are diverse but share common traits, making negotiations smoother. People in the region often have similar appearances and temperaments, generally characterized by peacefulness. **4. Common Goals** -The Asian region values the mutual benefits of gradual integration. With proximity and a hardworking population, it can form a strong negotiating bloc against other parts of the world. **5. Similar Security Needs** -Aside from small localized rebels, this association needs only to contend with foreign-supported terrorist groups which are usually handled well. **\*Investigate how different Asian states confront the challenges of globalization and** **regionalization.** **Challenges in GLOBALIZATION** Countries respond to globalization in a variety of ways: 1. China, for instance, offers its cheap labor and large workforce to entice foreign companies and grow commerce with countries it once saw as adversaries but now sees them as consumers for its good. 2. Other countries compensate for their limited size by capitalizing on their advantageous geographic location. 3. Singapore and Switzerland make up for their lack of resources by becoming financial banking powerhouse. **Challenges in REGIONALISM** ASEAN members continue to disagree over the extent to which member countries should sacrifice their sovereignty for the sake of regional stability. 1. The European Union faces significant challenges, including a financial crisis that has led countries like Greece to consider leaving for more economic flexibility. Rising anti-immigrant sentiment and populist opposition 2. ASEAN countries disagreed over how to relate to China, with the Philippines unable to get the other countries to support its condemnation of China\'s occupation of the West Philippine Sea. Cambodia and Laos opposed confrontation, favoring diplomacy largely due to increased Chinese investments and economic aid.