The Power Of The Big Powers And Regional Norms

The relationship between big powers and regional norms is one of themost important aspects in the study of regionalism. According to thefundamental differentiation of international relations theory, we can establishthree theoretical models, i.e. Hegemonic Provision Model of Realism,Institutional Selection Model of Liberalism and Cultural Construction Modelof Constructivism. Hegemonic Provision Model illustrates the power background ofregional norms, and points out that the hegemonic states provide the regionalnorms as a kind of public goods in order to maintain its hegemonic status.Institutional Selection Model states that an institution is needed by theinternational reality, and may not be connected to one big power. It can playan independent role after hegemony, helping states achieve cooperation.Cultural Construction Model holds that the ideas of regional cooperationproduced during social interaction, which is based on equality, are the basicdynamics of regional norms construction. The distribution of ideas influencesthe change of national identity and national interests. Big powers play a keyrole in the process of the formation, development, diffusion andinternalization of regional norms. Strategic choices of big powers determine the form and development ofregional norms. The regional norms of East Asia are in the shaping, deeplyinfluenced by the strategic choices of the United States, Japan, Russia andChina. The regional norms of ASEAN has obtained its unique regionalcharacteristics and become the basis of possible regional norms of the wholeEast Asia. However, the strategies of the United States, Japan and Russiatowards ASEAN are defined by either realist or liberalist models. China'sstrategy towards ASEAN has experienced historic changes from suspicionand hostility, dialogue and cooperation, to building strategic partnership. The strategic partnership between China and ASEAN embodies thecooperation in three fields: political-security, economic-trade, andsocial-culture. In the political-security filed, China has participated actively inthe ASEAN Regional Forum, sought a solution of the South China Seadisputes and cooperated with ASEAN on non-traditional security issues. Inthe economic-trade field, China has initiated the China-ASEAN Free TradeArea project, carried out effective financial cooperation after the disastrousAsian Finance Crisis, as well as the cooperation of the Great MekongSub-region development. In the social-culture field, both sides not only sharea comprehensive social network and cultural commonness but also havecooperated in dealing with common social crises like the SARS epidemic andsome specific functional fields. The cooperation in the above fields has madeChina change its understanding of regional multilateral cooperation andreconstruct its national interest, thus adopt a new policy to enhance regionalintegration. China's strategic choices on ASEAN norms characterized byCultural Construction Model will pave the way for future East Asiaregionalism.