AbstractsPolitical Science

Since the beginning of its existence, ASEAN has aimed at promoting regional social, cultural and economic cooperation between the member states. ASEAN’s advances in both trade and regional influence have been recognized by China, Japan, and South Korea. The rise in those three states’ interest in collaboration with ASEAN was also helped by the fact, that most of all the involved states share a common history and culture. Therefore, ASEAN+3 has been formed. The region’s shared use of the ‘ASEAN way’ and ‘non-confrontation’ have distinct features. In order to ascertain what determinants make up trade regionalism in ASEAN+3, this project make use of the ‘new regionalism approach’ together with process tracing. In addition, Kopstein & Lichbach’s theoretical approach of ‘Identity, Interests, and Institutions’, is used as the main way of identifying and analyzing the determinants of new trade regionalism in ASEAN+3. Advisors/Committee Members: Lauridsen, Laurids (advisor).