LESSON 5 Countries respond to globalization in variety of ways both

economically and politically. Some are large enough and

A WORLD OF REGIONS wealthy enough to be able to decide how they participate in
global integration processes.

GLOBALIZATION China, for instance, offers its cheap labor and large
workforce to entice foreign companies and grow commerce
Has made people aware of the world in general, but it with countries it once saw as adversaries but now sees them as
has also made Filipinos more cognizant of specific areas such consumers for its goods (e.g., the United States and Japan).
as Southeast Asia.
Other countries compensate for their limited size by
How, for instance, did the Philippines come to capitalizing on their advantageous geographic location.
identify itself with the Southeast Asian region? Why is it part Singapore and Switzerland make up for their lack of resources
of a regional grouping as the Association of Southeast Asian by becoming financial and banking powerhouses.
Nations (ASEAN)?
Better coordination has also yielded positive results in
academic and intellectual exchanges. While each member
country continues to support their respective nation
REGIONALISM
universities, there has also evolved in the last few years a new
Often seen as a political and economic phenomenon, regional perspective: ASEAN Studies
the term actually encompasses a broader area. It can be
examined in relation to identities, ethics, religion, ecological
sustainability, and health. ASEAN STUDIES
Regionalism is also a process and must be treated as Fosters the development, acquisition, and sharing of
an "emergent, socially constituted phenomenon. " It means knowledge about the countries and people of Southeast Asia
that regions are not natural or given; rather, they are and the ways they relate to each other and to the world.
constructed and defined by policymakers, economic actors,
and even social movements. Member countries have actively promoted this
perspective, and it is gradually displacing "Southeast Asian”
studies which originated in the West. This is a good sign a
Western university have been losing interest in Southeast Asia.
STRUCTURE OF GLOBALIZATION
With that being said, ASEAN studies a drawback.
Ecological sustainability, and health. The lesson will
Since it is supported by the member countries, it may not be
conclude by asking where all these regionalisms are bringing
supportive of studies that are critical of ASEAN and its
us as members of a nation and as citizens of the world
members

COUNTRIES REGIONS AND GLOBALIZATION

NON-STATE REGIONALISM
EDWARD D. MANSFIELD AND HELEN V. MILNER
It is not only states that agree to work together in the
States that economic and political definitions of name of a single cause (or c causes). Communities also engage
regions vary, but there are certain geographically specific in regional organization. This "new regionalism" varies in
basic features that everyone can agree on. form:

 “Tiny associations that include no more than a few

actors and focus on a single issue or huge continental
1. First, regions are a group of countries located in the unions that address a multitude of common problems
same area" or are "an amalgamation of two regions from territorial defense to food security. "
(or] a combination of more than two regions"  Organizations representing this "new regionalism"
organized to regulate and "oversee flows and policy Likewise rely on the power of individuals, non-
choices. governmental organizations (NGOS), and
associations to link up with one another in pursuit of
2. Second, the words regionalization and regionalism a particular goal (or goals).
should not be interchanged, as the former refers to the  “New regionalism” is identified with reformists who
"regional concentration of economic flows" while the share the same values, norms, institutions, and
latter is political process characterized by economic systems that exist outside of the traditional,
policy cooperation and coordination among countries. established mainstream institutions and systems.
Their Strategies and Tactics likewise vary:

Some organizations partner with governments to initiate NEW REGIONALISM

social change.
Differs significantly from traditional stateto-state
Those who work with governments ("legitimizers") regionalism when it comes to identifying problems.
participate in "institutional mechanisms that afford some civil
society groups voice and influence [in] technocratic policy- For example, states treat poverty or environmental
making processes. " degradation as technical or economic issues that can be
resolved by refining existing programs of state agencies,
For example, the ASEAN issued its Human Rights making minor changes in economic policies, and creating new
Declaration in 2009, but the regional body left it to member offices that address these issues.
countries to apply the declaration's principles as they see fit.
Aware that democratic rights are limited in many ASEAN However, proponents of new regionalism, such as the
countries, new regionalism" NGO GLOBAL FORUM, regard these problems as the result
of flawed economic development and environmental models.
They use the term "flawed" to describe economic growth plans
that are market- based, profit-driven, and have little regard for
Left-wing governments support the Hemispheric Social social welfare, particularly among the poor.
Alliance's opposition to the North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA), while members of the Mesa de
Articulación de Asociaciones Nacionales y Redes de ONGs
de América Latina y El Caribe (Roundtable of National Another challenge for new regionalists is the discord
Associations and Networks and NGOs in Latin America and that may emerge among them. For example: disagreements
the Caribbean) participate in "forums, summits, and dialogues surface over issues such as gender and breaking from religious
with presidents and ministers. civil the Church, Muslim imams, or governments which
oppose reproductive rights and other pro-women policies.
A group called the CITIZEN DIPLOMACY FORUM
tries to influence the policies and programs of the Moreover, and religion, with pro-choice NGOs
Organization of American States. society groups that side with the civil society groups are able
to dialogue with government latter may not be welcoming to
In Southeast Asia, the organization of ASEAN this new trend and set up one obstacle after another. Migrant
PARLIAMENTARIANS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS was, in Forum Asia and its ally, the Coordination of Action Research
part, the result of non-government organizations and civil on AIDS (CARAM), lobbied ASEAN governments to defend
society groups pushing to "prevent discrimination, uphold migrant labor rights
political freedom, and promote democracy and human rights
throughout the region.

Other regional organizations dedicate themselves to CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES TO REGIONALISM

specialized causes. Activists across Central and South America Today, regionalism faces multiple challenges, the most
established the RAINFOREST FOUNDATION to protect serious of which is the RESURGENCE OF MILITANT
indigenous peoples and the rainforests in Brazil, Guyana, NATIONALISM AND POPULISM.
Panama, and Peru.
The refusal to dismantle NATO after the collapse of the
Young Christians across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Soviet Union, for example, has become the basis of the anti-
Americas, and the Caribbean formed REGIONAL NATO rhetoric of Vladimir Putin in Russia. Now, even the
INTERFAITH YOUTH NETWORKS to promote conflict relationship of the United States—the alliance's core member
prevention, resolution, peace education, and sustainable —with NATO has become problematic after Donald Trump
development. demonized the organization as simply leeching off American
The MIGRANT FORUM in Asia is another regional military power without giving anything in return
network of NGOs and trade unions committed to protecting
and promoting the rights and welfare of migrant workers.
The CONTINUING FINANCIAL CRISIS of the region
The moral standing of these organizations as well as their is forcing countries such as Greece to consider leaving the
capacity to combine lobbying and pressure politics are their Union to gain more flexibility in their economic policy.
key assets. Unfortunately, the majority of them are
underfunded, putting them at a disadvantage when dealing Recently, ASEAN countries also disagreed over how to
with their government counterparts who have access to large relate to China, with the Philippines unable to get the other
sums of money. As a result, their influence on global politics is countries to support its condemnation of China's occupation of
limited. the West Philippine Sea. Cambodia and Laos led the
opposition, favoring diplomacy over confrontation, but the
real reason was the dramatic increase of Chinese investments
and economic aid to these countries.

PARTCIPATORY REGIONALISM

Helps inter-governmental organizations because it

provides them with a perspective drawn from the grass-roots
of Asian society. This addresses criticisms regarding the
perceived 'democratic deficit' of Asian regional regimes.

In 2021, non-interference has become the norm of

ASEAN. Early that year, the Burmese military's arrest of the
president of the country, AUNG SAN SYU KI, and leaders of
the opposition, had led to massive popular protests in the
cities.

There had been academic and political discussions

outside Myanmar that were critical of the military's action.
Civil society groups in Southeast Asia and elsewhere have also
appealed to their respective governments to pressure the
military to ease up and release those arrested

Finally, there are diverse perspectives on what

regionalism should be used for. Regional organizations may be
viewed by Western countries as agents of political
democratization as well as economic formations. However,
non-Western and developing countries may hold a dissimilar
perspective on globalization, development, and democracy.
For Singapore, China, and Russia, democracy is a barrier to
the implementation and deepening of economic globalization
because continual public scrutiny of economic projects and
protracted debate hinder implementation or result in
ambiguous results. Democracy's tedious procedures must,
therefore, give way to efficiency.

Official regional associations now cover vast swaths

of the world. The population of the countries that joined the
ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COUNCIL (APEC) alone
comprised 37% of the world's population in 2007. These
countries are also part of "smaller" organizations that include
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization, the North American Free Trade
Agreement, the Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, and the
Union of South American Nations. Even "isolationist" North
Korea is part of the Regional Forum, which discusses security
issues in the region.