This book is the first in a major new series examining Global Economic Institutions and contrasts regional economic integration in the Asia Pacific Region and in Europe. In the Asia Pacific Region, regionalism is developing by means of "open regionalism", which is different from the regionalism which has developed in Europe, through the construction of a single European Market and Monetary Union within the European Union. In the light of this contrast, a number of important contemporary policy questions are considered.
This text analyses the economic relationship that has evolved between the European Union and East Asia, and its future prospects, especially in the wake of the financial crisis that shook East Asia.
Interregionalism, the institutionalized relations between world regions, is a new phenomenon in international relations. It also a new layer of development in an increasingly differentiated global order. This volume examines the structure of this phenomenon and the scholarly discourse it is generating. It takes stock of empirical facts and theoretical explanations, bringing together with clarity and concision the latest research on this key area. This essential new book: * traces the emergence of interregionalism and reviews the latest literature * provides a conceptual and theoretical framework for study * includes case studies of inter-regional relations between: Asia and America; Asia and Europe; Europe and America; and Europe and Africa. * delivers comparative analyses and special cases such as continental summits and interregional relationships beyond the Triad. * summarizes and evaluates the findings of each chapter, providing a basis for further research. This is a key reference book for students and researchers of regionalism, global governance and international relations.
Europe and Asia are two major centres for the development of multi-polar and multi-lateral relations. This volume explores the substance and manner in which the member countries of the EU and their Asian counterparts interact at bilateral, multi-lateral and inter-regional levels.
In 2012, Russia assumes the Chairmanship of APEC, and is keen to build on its memberships of both East Asia Summit (EAS) and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). Russia is geographically and historically part of Asia and the Asia Pacific, and has been a dialogue partner of ASEAN since 1996. Still, the obstacles of distance and languages have led ASEAN member states and Russia to know and interact little between both sides. As growth poles in the world economy, there is much benefit in greater interaction between their rich economies. To commemorate the 15th Anniversary of the Russia-ASEAN dialogue partnership in 2011, the ASEAN Studies Centre at ISEAS and its counterpart from MGIMO-University, Moscow co-organized a two-day conference that year, in which papers were presented offering perspectives from Russia and the ten ASEAN member states. Representatives from academia, and the public and private sectors offered insights on topics including geopolitics, bilateral relations, business and economics, and culture and education. This is a timely book that affords the reader insights into where ASEAN-Russia relations currently stand and suggests how they can improve and move forward.
Europe and the Asia-Pacific is the most wide-ranging and accessible book currently available on the increasingly important relationship between these two regions. Compiled by leading experts, it covers the historical background, contemporary political setting and the vitally important economic aspects of this relationship. Moving on to deal with security considerations and policy decisions it provides valuable insights into the developing partnership between Europe and the Asia-Pacific. Rigorous and up-to-date, it is born out of the work of the Council for Asia-Europe cooperation (CAEC), a body of think tanks that supports the Asia-Europe Summit Meeting (ASEM) process.
This title was first published in 2000: When the second Asia-Europe meeting took place in London in April 1998, the EU's economic motivation of building strong links with Asia was challenged by the ongoing Asian economic crises that broke out in mid-1997. The political and social turmoil that ensued in many East Asian economies not only urges the re-examination of the East Asian economic miracle, but also reprioritizes the regional agenda and thus embarks on a new environment for Asia-Europe co-operation. The impact of this Asian turbulence on the establishment of the long-term Asia-Europe equal partnership in general and the ASEM process in particular are addressed in this book, based on the conclusions of the 1998 Asia-Europe Co-operation Forum. The aim of this book is to examine the background causes, responses, prospects and lessons of the first wave of financial crisis in Southeast Asia, and to then move on to an analysis of developments in Asia-Europe co-operative relations after the onset of the crisis. It examines the importance of continued interregional economic co-operation between ASEAN and the EU, looks at the economic impact of the 1997/98 East Asian financial crisis on the EU and analyzes the economic fabric of ASEM. In the final chapter, the book explores how the ASEM process has furthered the development of interregionalism in world affairs and discusses how the crisis has led to uncertainty for the organization's future development.
Small States in and outside the European Union offers a broad overview of the small states problematic in Europe. It touches upon definition issues, history, security policy, neutrality, EU institutional aspects and also includes contributors from Central and Eastern European countries. It presents a thorough analysis of different scenarios for EU institutional reform and their repercussions on the influence of small member states. The comparative results are visualized in tables. The work contains several contributions from practitioners who give insight into policy games and issues of national sensitivity not usually covered by purely scholarly publications. The European environment has changed dramatically through the processes of regional integration and rising interdependence. Relations between European states both inside and outside the EU are governed as never before by rules, norms, and fixed procedures. The book investigates the consequences of these developments on the foreign and security policy of small states. Academics and professionals from Austria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Sweden, and Switzerland, as well as from the European Commission and the Council of Ministers, elaborate on these issues. Institutional regulations and traditional power politics as well as the foreign and security policy traditions of the states concerned, including the question of neutrality, are investigated. In addition, the book identifies the main interests of small states in today's Europe and offers an overview of different strategies these states apply in the realm of foreign and security policy. The book is interesting for the case studies it offers as well as for the reflections it contains regarding fundamental questions of the essence of statehood in today's Europe.
Regional cooperation and integration have emerged as key issues for East Asia following the financial crisis. This book explores these issues, and examines the degree to which a new paradigm is emerging. It reviews the evolution of the concepts and practices of regionalism in East Asia, and considers the factors which are shaping new patterns of regional co-operation and integration. It includes discussions of historical developments, economic co-operation, socio-political factors, and defence and security. It considers the role of those states, including China and Japan, which have distinctive approaches to international relations, and assesses the role of regional international bodies such as ASEAN.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) was founded in 1989. Since then the forum has developed into a major player in tri-partite relations between North America, East Asia and Europe. The Seattle and Bogor Summits were landmark events suggesting to many observers a gravitational shift in the world economy and world politics. Yet the Asian financial crisis had a sobering effect on high-flying expectations as APEC contributed little to crisis management. In the light of such contradictory performance, distinguished scholars here examine APEC's achievements and failures, its role and functions in international relations, its linkages with regional organisations and the interplay between the forum and national interests of major factors in the region.
