thayer what is the asia-pacific?

8/2/2019 Thayer What is the Asia-Pacific?

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What is the Asia-Pacific Region?

Emeritus Professor Carl ThayerEmeritus Professor Carl Thayer

Presentation toPresentation to

Centre forCentre for DefenceDefence and Strategic Studiesand Strategic StudiesMarch 5, 2012March 5, 2012


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the term Asia-Pacific

Role of regions inn erna ona po cs

Sub-regions and the AsiaPacific re ionalism


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Shared characteristics and

patterns of interaction

Factors contributing to

Factors contributing toregional fragmentation


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1. Dif ferent w ays in w hich Asia-Pacif ic may be understood


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nc en ree snc en ree s -- an mass o ean mass o eeast called Asiaeast called Asia Magellan (1520)Magellan (1520)-- Mar PacificoMar Pacifico

T. RooseveltT. Roosevelt -- The Pacific Era (1903)The Pacific Era (1903) PanPan--AsianismAsianism Asia for the AsiaticsAsia for the Asiatics


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Washington Conference 1921Washington Conference 1921--2222 Japans East Asia CoJapans East Asia Co--prosperityprosperity

S here 1938S here 1938 Greater East Asia CoGreater East Asia Co--prosperity Sphereprosperity Sphere

19001900

War in the Pacific (1941War in the Pacific (1941--45)45)


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vo v ng ac c ommun yvo v ng ac c ommun y

1966 Asian Development Bank1966 Asian Development Bank ac c ra e an eve opmentac c ra e an eve opment

Conference (PAFTAD)Conference (PAFTAD)economistseconomists

1969 Pacific Basin Economic Council1969 Pacific Basin Economic Council(PBEC)(PBEC)


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Evolvin Conce t of the Asia-Pacific

Commission for Asia and the Pacific

Council (PECC)Council (PECC) r part te: government, n ustry,r part te: government, n ustry,academicsacademics

1989 Asia Pacific EconomicCoo eration APEC


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Gareth Evans Eastern Hemis hereGareth Evans Eastern Hemis hereGareth Evans Eastern Hemis hereGareth Evans Eastern Hemis here


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AsiaAsia Pacific BasinPacific Basin

AsiaAsia PacificPacific

CommunityCommunitys as a-- ac cac c

PacificPacific AsiaAsiaEast AsiaEast Asia

--PacificPacific RimRim C/communityC/community


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2. The Region and2. The Region andInternational PoliticsInternational Politics

A level of analysis between the systemicA level of analysis between the systemic(global) level and nation(global) level and nation--state levelstate level

A way of ordering world politicsA way of ordering world politics patternspatterns

of enmity and amityof enmity and amity Boundaries determine membership; theyBoundaries determine membership; they

serve to include as well as exclude.serve to include as well as exclude.

Regional communities require a sense ofRegional communities require a sense ofregionalism or regional identityregionalism or regional identity


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What is a re ion? Two ViewsWhat is a re ion? Two Views

A region is a territory that is unified by a setA region is a territory that is unified by a setof common factors such a geographicalof common factors such a geographicalprox m y, c ma e, econom c n egra on,prox m y, c ma e, econom c n egra on,trade, culture, religion, shared history and/ortrade, culture, religion, shared history and/or

..

A region is a geoA region is a geo--political construct designedpolitical construct designed, , ,, , ,

academics and others to serve a specificacademics and others to serve a specificpolicy purpose.policy purpose.


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Chapter VIChapter VI regional agenciesregional agencies have a rolehave a role

authority of the UNauthority of the UN

ap er mem ers en o ne o se eap er mem ers en o ne o se elocal disputes peacefully throughlocal disputes peacefully through regionalregional

arrangemen sarrangemen s e ore a ng up ssue we ore a ng up ssue wSecurity Council.Security Council.


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The re ion and the United NationsThe re ion and the United NationsBased on tradition, UN members areBased on tradition, UN members are organisedorganised

into five regional groups mainly for theinto five regional groups mainly for thepurposes of nominating candidates for election.purposes of nominating candidates for election.ese groups are:ese groups are:

1.1. AfricaAfrica

..

3.3. Eastern EuropeEastern Europe

5.5. Western Europe and Others GroupWestern Europe and Others Group (includes(includesAustralia, Canada, New Zealand and the UnitedAustralia, Canada, New Zealand and the UnitedStates)States)


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U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM)U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM)


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US Hub and Spokes ModelUS Hub and Spokes Model

apanapan

SouthSouthKoreaKorea

Phili inesPhili ines


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Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation


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3.Sub3.Sub--Regions and the Asia PacificRegions and the Asia Pacific

NorthEast Asia

NorthEast Asia

Sout

East Asia

Sout

East Asia

Sout

Pacific

Sout

Pacific

AsiaAsia

Asia

Asia


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Regional Organisations and theRegional Organisations and the

EASEAS

APECAPECNE Asia?NE Asia?

ARFARFSCOSCO

ASEAN +3ASEAN +3SAARCSAARC

ASEANASEANPIFPIF


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ASEAN Cent r icOrganisations

EAS ASEAN + 8

ARF

APT China, Japan

and SouthKorea


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East AsiaEast Asia ASEANASEANummumm

ChinaPlus

Three

Plus

Three Japan South Korea

India,India, Ori inalus ra a,NZ

us ra a,NZ members

US andRussiaUS andRussia

Newmembers


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Indo-Pacific Maritime Re ion


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5. Asia5. Asia--Pacific Region:Pacific Region:Integrative FactorsIntegrative Factors

GlobalizationGlobalization -- interdependenceinterdependence Power S i t to East AsiaPower S i t to East Asia

Sea lines of communicationSea lines of communication US economic & security presenceUS economic & security presence Multilateral institutionsMultilateral institutions

Ideational factors and normsIdeational factors and norms Pax PacificiaPax Pacificia


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6. Asia6. Asia--Pacific Region:Pacific Region:Factors of FragmentationFactors of Fragmentation

Pan Asia PacificPan Asia Pacific --vv-- subsub--regionalismregionalism Great Power rivalryGreat Power rivalry Divided states (Korea, China)Divided states (Korea, China)

Rogue states (North Korea, Myanmar?)Rogue states (North Korea, Myanmar?)

SocioSocio--economic disparities, arc ofeconomic disparities, arc ofinstability and potential failed statesinstability and potential failed states


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What is the AsiaWhat is the Asia--Pacific Re ion?Pacific Re ion?

Emeritus Professor Carl ThayerEmeritus Professor Carl Thayer

Presentation toPresentation to

Centre for DefenceCentre for Defence and Strategic Studiesand Strategic StudiesMarch 5, 2012March 5, 2012

thayer what is the asia-pacific?

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