ASIA’S QUEST FOR STABILITY: REGIONALISM AS A GEOPOLITICAL STRATEGY

Abstract

Asia’s geopolitical landscape is defined by its immense diversity, complex historical legacies, and evolving power dynamics, making regionalism a vital strategy for achieving long-term stability. This paper explores the role of regionalism as a mechanism to address Asia’s interconnected challenges, including economic disparities, environmental crises, technological advancements, and security concerns. Regionalism in Asia not only serves as a platform for fostering economic integration but also as a tool for enhancing political dialogue, mutual confidence, and collective security. By analyzing the interactions between historical grievances, cultural ties, and economic interdependence, this study demonstrates how regional frameworks, such as ASEAN and RCEP, enable nations to align their interests while navigating geopolitical rivalries. The paper also delves into the obstacles hindering regional cooperation, such as unresolved territorial disputes, legacy conflicts, and the competing ambitions of major powers. It argues that despite these barriers, Asia’s regionalism has proven resilient and adaptive, offering solutions to global challenges like climate change and pandemic management through intra-regional collaboration. Furthermore, it highlights the imperative for policymakers to embrace inclusive regionalism and prioritize multilateral mechanisms to create a genuinely multipolar order that ensures equitable development and peace. For scholars, a broader conceptualization of security—beyond military balances—is necessary to address the socioeconomic and ideological dimensions shaping Asia’s political behavior. In conclusion, Asia’s quest for stability lies in strengthening regionalism as a geopolitical strategy that reconciles historical divides, balances national ambitions, and builds sustainable frameworks for cooperation. The paper calls for innovative policy approaches and deeper academic inquiry to ensure that regionalism continues to serve as a cornerstone for peace and prosperity in Asia.

Keywords: Asia, Regionalism, Geopolitical Strategy, Stability, Economic Integration, Security, ASEAN, RCEP, Regional Cooperation, Multipolar Order, Policy Making, Historical Grievances, Intra-Regional Collaboration