In the decade since the Asian financial crisis the ten states of Southeast Asia that form ASEAN, together with China, Japan and South Korea have formed the basis of a community intended to support the well-being of its member states, markets and peoples. This highly successful regionalisation was not anticipated by the region’s leaders, however, and as a result, policy makers are increasingly talking about ‘meeting fatigue’ and the need to find a better way to govern regional affairs. Among the reforms being considered is a shift towards a more rules-based culture as well as the more explicit incorporation of both private sector and civil society organisations into the policy processes. In short, ASEAN+3 is seeking to develop new norms and processes for its networks and institutions.
This book explores the pressures currently influencing East Asian regionalist policy debates, analysing the trend towards deeper integration and the emergence of a governance model for managing regional processes. Combining state and subnational perspectives in conjunction with an examination of the role of the business community and civil society organisations, this book highlights the policy challenges confronting regionalism and governance in East Asia, including key issues such as the rule of law, financial cooperation and a case study on disaster management.
1. Understanding Regional Governance in Asia Nicholas Thomas 2. Evolving Regional Governance in East Asia: From ASEAN to an East Asian Community Mely Caballero-Anthony 3. Japan and Regional Governance in East Asia: Expanding Involvement, Stagnated Influence? Hidetaka Yoshimatsu 4. South Korea and East Asian Regionalism: Policies, Norms and Challenges Jaewoo Choo 5. China’s Regional Governance: Developing Norms and Institutions Nicholas Thomas 6. Australia and Asian Institutional Networks: Bilateral Preferences, Multi-lateral Gains James Cotton 7. India and East Asia: Through the Looking Glass Isabelle Saint-Mézard 8. The United States and Regional Governance in East Asia: The Changing Face of American Power Thomas G. Moore 9. The Role of Law in Governing Regionalism in Asia Paul J. Davidson 10. East Asian Governance: Implications for Policy Cooperation, Regionalism and Financial Integration Douglas W. Arner, Paul Lejot & Wei Wang 11. Regional Governance and Disaster Response Alain Guilloux 12. Asia/Europe and the Construction of Regional Governance Stephanie Lawson 13. New Modes of Regionalising Governance in Asia Kanishka Jayasuriya
Biography
Nicholas Thomas is an Associate Professor in the Department of Asian and International Studies at the City University of Hong Kong.
'This is a useful book for students of East Asian regionalism.]...[A very good starting point for considering current preoccupations and relatively conventional thinking on future possibilities.' - Jim Rolfe, Conteomporary Southeast Asia, Volume 31, Number 3, December 2009
