Regional Integration and Security in Europe and Asia: A Comparative Analysis

The aim of this paper is to compare the evolving nature of regional integration in Europe and the Asia Pacific region, and to reflect upon the implications of the changing patterns of cooperation and conflict for regional security in both regions. In addition to an overview of a growing range of bilateral and multilateral exercises in regionalism, it examines the interplay between interest and identity with regard to peace and security in the two regions. Specifically, this paper is primarily concerned with identifying the conditions under which a 'security community' is likely to succeed or fail. In the author's view, the common regionalist thrust notwithstanding, regional cooperation in the Asia Pacific region has been, and seems bound to remain, very different from the European experience. The prospects for a security community in this region appear to be as remote as ever.