Abstract
Research on the emerging links between the Middle East (West Asia) and other parts of Asia has grown considerably since late twentieth century. Indeed, the contributions to this special edition of the journal reflect some of the pioneering work taking place on pan-Asian relations encompassing new analysis of the Middle East’s links with the ‘East’—Central, South, and East Asia. The research in this field, looking back into history as well as forward, has grown in response to the changing dynamics of intra-Asian relations following the end of the Cold War in 1990 and the collapse of the Soviet Union as a Eurasian land empire just a year later. The end of bipolarity encouraged new transnational relations and further regionalization of a new world order. As multi-polarity has steadily given way to a state of non-polarity, so the veil has also been lifted on the significant economic and political ties which have grown across strategic regions. In considering strategic regions, it is contended here that Asia is home to the most dynamic of these, in terms of asset accumulation, geopolitical weight, population size, and economic prowess. But it is also significant for the volatility which appears along the fault lines of historical animosity, national security tensions, modern-day rivalries, border and resources disputes, and the strengthening of communalism and divisive role of identity politics. Moreover, the collapse of the Soviet control of much of Central Asia opened up new spaces for exchange in Asia, much encouraged by the exploitation of hydrocarbon reserves of the Soviet successor states in Asia (also Azerbaijan in the Caucasus). But, pan-Asian ties predate the post-Cold War transformations of the global system, and several Asian powers were able to negotiate mutually beneficial links soon after the Second World War. Although evidence of ancient pan-Asian relations is to be found in the Silk Road, systemic shift in our time is clearly leading to a perceptible transfer of the global economic balance Eastwards, which has brought with it the rise of energy-hungry Asian economies in the twenty-first century. Asian demand for energy has changed the complexion of Middle East-Asia relations, and pan-Asian relations in this context are today a reflection of the changing contours of the global political economy.
Highlights
The discussion in this volume reflects the many interesting debates which have been taking place in Durham and elsewhere1 since the mid-2000s on how inter-Asian, panAsian, relations are being shaped and being mediated.2 Scholarship has grown considerably on this emerging relationship—this emerging ‘nexus’ [11]—and is increasingly reflecting the diverse perspectives of the many parties involved [21]
It was suggested earlier that the increasingly strategic relationship between the edges of Asia is a product of loose regionalization being forged by the changes in the hydrocarbon market
What has been argued is that shift in the balance of economic power, alongside a structural shift in the global energy market, has been driving the Asianization of the Middle East and, as an energy-led process, will augment the deepening of panAsian relationships to increasingly include Central Asia
Summary
The discussion in this volume reflects the many interesting debates which have been taking place in Durham and elsewhere since the mid-2000s on how inter-Asian, panAsian, relations are being shaped and being mediated. Scholarship has grown considerably on this emerging relationship—this emerging ‘nexus’ [11]—and is increasingly reflecting the diverse perspectives of the many parties involved [21]. I would suggest, are, firstly, systemic shift, which is encouraging convergence; secondly, the restructuring of international relations in a world of regions; and thirdly, reinforcing trade compatibility (hydrocarbons for East and South Asia in exchange for required goods and services) providing fuel for the convergence. What this means for the broader workings of the international system is harder to judge, but what it does show of the international system is that globalization is increasingly Asianization of the international system in which the relative balance of power has changed sufficiently to cause an Eastward shift.
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