Transcript 동아시아에서의 지역 통합 - Alternative Regionalisms

Regional integration
in East Asia
Aehwa Kim
Korea Alliance of
Progressive
Movements
Various thoughts
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Discourses on East Asian integration have
been developed in 4 areas :
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economic integration in East Asia
regional hegemony
East Asian Identity
alternative communities
1. Economic Integration
of East Asia
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Economic blocs such as the EU, Mercosure, and NAFTA
have been strengthened by the neo-liberalism which has
been spreading since the 1980s.
This trend [towards regional economic blocs] also gave
East Asia an opportunity to create regionalism in this area.
In particular, the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s was
a historical moment for East Asia to take regionalism
seriously. It was urgent to develop regional cooperation in
every economic areas such as trade, finance, foreign
exchange and capital. With this background, the goal to
establish an ‘economic community through a free trade
area’ was set up and several discourses started to be
actively advanced in order to analyze the East Asian
economic community.
2. Regional Hegemony
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Regional hegemony ( Supremacy in a region) :
Since China started to be incorporated into the
world capitalist system during the late 1980s,
discourse on regional hegemony has developed.
As China emerged as an economic and military
power, Japan started to speed up its rearmament
program and promote enlargement of its role in
Asia. Competition between the two powers in
East Asia has intensified. Efforts have been made
to create a common security community in East
Asia.
3. East Asian Identity
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East Asian identity is based on the confidence
and the economic success in East Asia since the
1980s. It insists that East Asia has a distinctive
difference from Western civilization. In other
words, there is an ‘East Asian model ’ or an ‘Asian
value’ in East Asia.
Singapore former PM Lee Kuan Yew and
Malaysian former PM Mahathir contributed to the
expansion of this notion. One of the core cultural
elements is Confucianism. It leads to
Confucianist capitalism.
4. Alternative regionalism
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Alternative regionalism views East Asia an an
alternative community. Its views are varied:
– Some insist that the Asian alternative
community should take root in Asian culture
based more on collective rather than individual
western culture and life.
– Others maintain a 3rd perspective that is
neither socialism nor capitalism. It is based on
self-reliant community rather than controlled
by a nation-state. It is pursued by some civil
society groups in East Asia.
– Finally another differing view is that of
coutner-neo-liberalism (globalization).
Institution for Regional Integration in
East Asia
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Regional integration bodies in East Asia :
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Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN)
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
ASEAN+3 / ASEAN +6
ASEM
ASEAN Charter
Chiang Mai initiative and AMF : Under the Chiang Mai Initiative adopted in
2000, the ASEAN+3 nations agreed to set up the so-called Asian Monetary
Fund to prevent a recurrence of a financial crisis in the Asia region. The
system is aimed at helping crisis-hit countries use a common pool of
currency reserves to overcome a financial disaster.
The first three-part summit between China, Korea, and Japan was held
separately from the multilateral international forums (taking place at the
same time) for currency swaps to weather the global economic crisis.
The three countries used to meet annually on the sidelines of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus Three summit.
ASEAN + 3(APT)
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In 2005, formal first APT summit held.
However, its original proposal for East Asian Summit
was initiated in 1990 by Malaysian formal PM
Mahathir.
It had to face strong opposition by the U.S. and
Australian gov’ts. They were concerned about its
implication might have for the development of APEC.
The U.S. was worried about exclusion of it from
East Asian summit.
Despite the opposition, the proposal did not fade
away.
East Asian Vision Group proposed by South Korea
president was set up to create APT in 1998.
1. Long term regionalizing trends
East Asia’s recent historical experiences
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Japanese colonialism in the 1930s and 40s.
The U.S. influence after the second WW.
Japan’s expansion of its business network in East Asia
Common cultural traits
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More focus on family, community and social harmony as
well as on duty, the acceptance of hierarchy, community
and a respect for authority.
Distinctive economic development
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State interventionism, developmental states emphasized
export-oriented industrialization.
Protection of certain industries from external competition.
FDI flow within East Asian region
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Japanese and Chinese diasporas investment
2. Others to inspire
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Emergence of Regionalism in other areas
The Asian Economic Crisis
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Asian Economic crisis coincided with the initial meetings
of the APT.
A clear consensus on IMF in conjunction with the U.S.
gov’t.
IMF policy has ignored the unique characteristics of the
East Asia and made East Asia plunge deeper into
difficulties.
Resulted in Chiang Mai Initiatives.
1. In Asia when the U.S. superpower get
weakened
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Defeat of the U.S. in Iraq and middle east Asia
and recent financial crisis have led to diminishing
the U.S. power.
Now is the time when external influence of not
only the US but also of other imperialist countries
is becoming the weakest in Asia.
It is time that Asian (independent) power or
collective ideas needs to be strengthened for the
development of Asia.
2. Competition on militarization
in Northeast Asia
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The collapse of the Soviet Union resulted in expenditures of armaments in
Northeast Asia increasing significantly.
In China, the defense budget increased by 15.36 % at an annual average
since 1990s .
The military relationship between the US and Japan was strengthened
The nuclear issue in North Korea became one of the reason for Japanese
remilitarization.
Japan is playing a role as a headquarters under the U.S. strategy in Asia.
Russia also strengthen the amament of Pacific area using petro resources,
and try to gain the influence in Asia.
South Korea has deepened military dependence on the U.S. accusing
North Korea of threat to Korean peninsula.
3. China
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和平堀起 Peaceful rising/ 平和發展 Peaceful
development
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China is trying to avoid super power image threatening
neighboring countries and approach Asia with the soft
power image.
The process toward East Asia is very diverse and multiple.
China announced to allow Yuan as trading currency with
ASEAN in December last year.
China’s plan and activities towards East Asia community is
based on the idea of Capital tri-polarism with the U.S., EU
and East Asia.
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Tensions of regional integration in East
Asia
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Conflict between China and Japan
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Unless the two powers settle their historical differences, it is
doubtful whether a broader East Asian community is possible.
How should we define the geographic boundary of East Asia (
up to what point is East Asia?)
 ASEAN +3 or ASEAN+ 6 or including Russia ?
 Who will take the lead role in East Asia?
Who will take the lead role in East Asia?
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ASEAN pushes for (poses) ASEAN-leadership during building
the East Asian Community.
Northeast Asian countries tend to place Northeast Asia at the c
enter.
1. Long process of civil society
engagement in ASEAN
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Since ASEAN establishment in 1967, ASEAN has shown a
little interest in facilitating the participation of non-state
actors in decision-making processes.
However business community has involved in it directly or
indirectly in particular in the 1980s and 90s.
The academic community has also been playing a role in
ASEAN.
Indeed it was only after the economic crisis that more civil
society organizations became involved in ASEAN and its
activities, also largely as a result of the process of
democratization in the area.
2. why CSOs were less engaged… in
the perspective of CSOs
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The CSOs were less interested in ASEAN.
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CSOs reflects an immediate responses to public need at
grassroots
In general, CSOs are issue-oriented.
NGOs and grassroot organizations have been involved
in various regional networks, most of their activities have
focused on international institutions such as IMF, WB,
WTO.
ASEAN was regarded as a weak body with little power to
impact on the well-being of Southeast Asian people.
3. Reasons why CSOs should have
more interests in …
2020 vision to establish an East Asia community by 2020
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It might be ambitious plan but has forced CSOs to take
ASEAN more seriously.
Increasing opinion to look at ASEAN as a platform :
Regional organizations can influence at the national and
regional level.
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In particular, ASEAN FTAs negotiation process with China,
Korea and other country have proceeded by regional level.
Aware of potential harms and benefits of ASEAN
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Can be a useful tool, a buffer to prevent the conflicts that
plagued its member countries.
Networks and Forums for Engagement
with East Asia
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Asia People’s Assembly
ASEAN Civil Society Conference (ACSC)
ASEAN-ISIS :academic community
Solidarity for Asian People’s Solidarity (SAPA).
SAPA
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Five regional and international organizations initiated to
enhance the effectiveness of civil society engagement with
the various inter-gov’ts process that have rapidly risen in
the region.
Working groups were established to discuss specific
issues, in particular ASEAN Charter.
However, only ASEAN working group is fully functioned.
Still, regional integration process is not recognized as
important issues in East Asian civil society.
Need to develop
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Innovative theoretical conceptualization on causes and
effects of regional integration.
Preconditions for successful Asian /sub-regional
integration.
Articulation of relationship between regionalism and
alternatives to globalization and capitalism.
Efforts to expand its concerned groups to Social
movements, grassroots organization and various civic
groups ; organizing teaching caravan or seminar
Concrete and common issues as the mid-term goal ; for
example, setting up Asian common action team on
agricultural and energy issue.
Thank you !