Introduction

This chapter discusses of key developments in the Asia-Pacific during the Cold War. It examines the major paradigms in international relations – realism, liberalism, neo-Marxism and constructivism – which have been highly influential prisms through which both academic analyses, as well as policy-makers, have viewed international relations in the Asia-Pacific. Following the failure of the Association of Southeast Asia (ASA), and the abortive South Korean-led Asian and Pacific Council (ASPAC), a key initiative was the formation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1967. Exemplifying 'old regionalism', ASEAN took many cues from the European Community (EC), establishing a large number of committees dealing with common interests such as banking, financial affairs, jurisprudence, shipping and employer organizations, as well as cultural organizations. Neoliberal institutionalism has its basis in regime theory, which points to the proliferation of institutions in the post-war world. This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book.