IDEAS, IDENTITY, AND INSTITUTION-BUILDING - FROM THE ASEAN WAY TO THEASIA-PACIFIC WAY

This article examines the extent to which the development of multilate ral institutions in the Asia-Pacific region may be viewed as an exerci se in identity-building. It argues that institution-building in this r egion is more of a 'process-orientated' phenomenon, rather than simply being an outcome of structural changes in the international system (s uch as the decline of American hegemony). The process combines univers al principles of multilateralism with some of the relatively distinct modes of socialization prevailing in the region. Crucial to the proces s have been the adaptation of four ideas: 'cooperative security', 'ope n regionalism', 'soft regionalism', and 'flexible consensus'. The cons truction of a regional identity, which may be termed the 'Asia-Pacific Way' has also been facilitated by the avoidance of institutional gran d designs and the adoption of a consensual and cautious approach extra polated from the 'ASEAN Way'. The final section of the article examine s the limitations and dangers of the Asia-Pacific Way. It concludes wi th the assertion that while the Asia-Pacific Way is an over-generalise d, instrumental, and pragmatic approach to regional cooperation, and t here remain significant barriers to the development of a collective re gional identity that is constitutive of the interests of the actors, i t has helped introduce the concept and practice of multilateralism int o a previously sceptical region and might have 'bought' enough time an d space for regional actors to adapt to the demands of multilateralism .