Making East Asia

This chapter lays the foundation for the book by situating its analysis within the broader context of East Asian region-building and setting the stage for the chapters that follow. It engages with key theoretical debates in the literature, including definitions of what constitutes a region, the relationship between regionalism and regionalisation, and the links between regionalism and institution-building. The discussion then turns to East Asia’s often-characterised ‘stunted regionalism,’ a term denoting the persistent obstacles to constructing a cohesive regional order. Much like the treatment of identity dynamics discussed in the first chapter, explanations for East Asia’s limited regional integration often adopt holistic, functionalist, or structuralist perspectives. The chapter illustrates the value of an agent-centred approach by emphasising the role of political actors and their strategic choices in shaping regional outcomes. In doing so, it establishes the conceptual foundation for the book’s broader framework and its focus on how domestic and international political dynamics intersect in the process of East Asian region-building.