ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the theoretical framework, which includes the bottom-up regionalism by civil society. It traces the origin of top-down Mekong regionalism to the 1950s and demonstrates its characteristics. The chapter provides an overview of the Mekong Congestion since the 1990s, and explains how it is predominantly oriented toward "neoliberal regionalism" and "state-centric regionalism." It explores the activities of civil society networks attempting to correct regionalism from above that gives priority to economic development. The chapter analyzes the reality of regional hegemony in the Mekong region. It explores the participation of civil society actors in regional policymaking and examines the effectiveness and limits of regional civil society. The chapter discusses several organizations as examples of the emergent Mekong public sphere and examines their characteristics and activities in detail. It discusses the Asian Development Bank's Greater Mekong Sub-region Economic Cooperation Program, the Mekong River Commission, and the Mekong Institute.
