The Bridge or the Battering Ram? : Analyzing the significance of inter-regional 'bridging' in a comparative South-Southeast Asian Framework

ISBN-13: 9783639158038 / Angielski / Miękka / 2009 / 100 str.

Ajay Parasram

Opis

Regionalism and globalization are often seen ascompeting processes of multi-state organization. Thisproject brings together these two processes toexplore the development of regions in South andSoutheast Asian politics in order to analyzeeclectically the significance of the Bay of BengalInitiative for Multi-Sectoral and TechnicalCooperation (BIMSTEC). This work identifies coretheoretical reasons why the Association of SoutheastAsian Nations (ASEAN) exemplifies successful Asianregionalism and also why the South Asian Associationfor Regional Cooperation (SAARC) does not. Far frombeing a benign sub-regional bridge, the developmentof the BIMSTEC is stained in Sino-Indian competitionfor influence and power in a post-cold war Asia.Indeed, in final analysis, the BIMSTEC proves to be a bridge for powerful nations and a battering ram for smaller nations, unable to exert influence amidstregional politics. The Bridge or the Battering Ramoffers a timely reflection on the currents ofregionalism focussing on one of Asia''s lessemphasized places that will nonetheless continue togrow in influence in the years to come.

O autorze

Ajay Parasram was educated at Dalhousie University in Halifax,
University of British Colombia in Vancouver, and Carleton
University in Ottawa where he earned an MA in Political Science.
He is currently a researcher at the Asia Pacific Foundation of
Canada in Vancouver. Current research surrounds foreign policy
and South Asian regional security.