ABSTRACT
The main purpose of this paper is to outline a preliminary framework for the analysis of the nature of geopolitical change in relation to interactions among globalisation, the state and regionalism for the Asia-Pacific region. Overall, it is clear that the combination of globalisation with the ‘collapse’ of bipolarity has ensured that regionalism and regionalisation will become increasingly important in world politics. 1 There is a need for post-realist spatial structures and policies to cope with all of these outcomes, and regionalism can potentially play an important ‘intermediary’ role in which the re-establishment of security and stability can be facilitated. The emergence of ‘new regionalism’ in the Asia-Pacific is potentially well suited to these requirements, although its structure and function are highly contested.
