ABSTRACT

Contemporary discussions of Asia-Pacific regionalism tend to share three assumptions: that an historical perspective limited to the period since the mid 1960s, or even since 1989, is sufficient; that the objective is an enhanced and now redefined form of national security; and that this objective is to be achieved through the creation of intergovernmental arrangements shaped by the transnational collaboration of academic, business and government representatives – the tripartite policy network (see, for example, Hellman and Pyle, 1997; Mack and Ravenhill, 1995). After briefly outlining the meaning of transnationalism and these three dominant assumptions, this chapter explores an alternative conception of transnationalism in the Asia-Pacific region. The time line is extended back to the 1920s, the conventional analysis of the security being sought is challenged, and the grassroots reaction to the exclusive tripartite policy network approach to regional co-operation is assessed. The argument presented here is that a ‘people-centred’ transnationalism exists beyond the dominant, narrow depiction of regional co-operation. We need a broader view of the social forces engaged in regional co-operation as well as a multidimensional conception of security.