Strategic Thought on Regionalism

Abstract

Strategic thinking about regionalism is most clearly revealed through an inductive approach to reasoning about multiple regions and various countries salient to multilateral cooperation. Over four periods and in four directions prospects for regionalism fluctuated, as leaders grew more supportive only if they limit its scope and use it for leadership or to steer relations with one or more of the great powers toward a more balanced partnership. Eventually, in Southeast Asia, China focused on ASEAN + 3, in Central Asia on the SCO, in Northeast Asia on the Six-Party Talks, and in South Asia it was being challenged in 2009 to consider a U.S.-led initiative for a multilateral approach to the dangerous strife in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Drawing together strands of strategic thinking from the prior chapters, we also evaluate how they intersect on the larger scale of Asian reorganization.