This paper focuses on three types of regionalism (mega, macro and sub) in East Asia and the Asia Pacific Region, utilizing them as an analytic framework. It is composed of five parts. The first is an introductory section dealing with the definition of East Asia and the Asia-Pacific region and concepts related to regionalism. The second section addresses the question of homogeneity and heterogeneity of nations situated in East Asia in order to examine the possibility of an EU type of regional integration. The third section probes subregionalism in East Asia, after having pointing out various patterns of development which are prerequisites for subregional development. The fourth section probes into the prospects of the APEC as a megaregional attempt, and also indicates some problems associated with this so-called “open” regionalism. The fifth section investigates Japan's role in regional attempts in East Asia and the Asia-Pacific. The paper ends with a summary of the above discussions.
We define three types of regionalism, based on (1) the number of actors, (2) leadership, (3) stages of economic development, (4) production relationships, (5) cultural identity, (6) level of regionalization and/or integration and (7) institutional formality. In the Asia-Pacific we have three types of regionalism to consider in theory, although we miss the second type in practice. The first type is subregionalism, the second macroregionalism and the third megaregionalism. While a EU type of macroregionalism is less probable, subregionalism has been more active and dynamic, and megaregionalism, expressed in APEC, is more or less probable. But regionalism is one thing and regionalization is another. Regionalization without regionalism has been very remarkable in the macro-region of East Asia.
Different levels of economic activities are involved in subregionalism and megaregionalism. Subregionalism is based on a vertical exchange of production elements, and megaregionalism is supported by a mixture of a vertical and a horizontal division of labour, although classical theories of integration presuppose a horizontal division of labour among nations. Thus a determinig factor is whether those nations can proceed to a higher lavel of division of labour, even if it would remain vertical. Another important factor of megaregionalism in the Asia-Pacific is a balance of autonomy of East Asia and dependence on the US in the economic sphere.
APEC must be open to
the people in this region, we need some international framework to improve human rights situations in East Asia, without which all regional attempts will proceed at the sacrifice of the weak or oppressed.
抄録全体を表示