ASEM and the politics of regional identity

Abstract

The initial impetus for the formation of ASEM came principally from economic factors as global restructuring and new developments in regionalization occurred following the end of the Cold War. From the time it came into being, however, ASEM’s agenda has been much broader, including as it does both political and cultural pillars as well as an economic one. And although economic factors do contribute to identity formation, it is largely within the context of political and cultural considerations that questions of identity have arisen. These include (although are by no means limited to) two issues. First, there is the issue of who is included in the formal membership of the meeting process and all its attendant activities – and who is excluded. Second, there is the recurring theme of human rights which the European Union has made a centrepiece of its Common Foreign and Security Policy, and which has therefore become part and parcel of its identity as an international actor. The purpose of this paper is to consider how these issues have played out since ASEM was founded, and to consider future directions.