Crossing Borders: Institutions of Contemporary Trans-Asian Politics

Abstract

This article deals with one of the forms of new regionalism in Asia — trans- Asian politics. The author examines in detail how trans-Asian political structures are formed on the basis of liberal ideology. The study is based on materials from the Asian media; its research methodology draws on Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of political capital. The chronological framework of the study extends over the first twenty years of the 21st century, during which the infl uence of liberal ideology shaped a new regionalism. At the present stage, the structures that perform the representative function of trans-Asian political integration describe their ideology in marked contrast to the ideologies of both China and Russia. Having close ties with American and European institutions, they form a special generation of political organizations and politicians focused on actions both within their own national states and outside their borders. In the future, this may become a serious challenge to the internal political stability of the regional hegemonic powers. As the liberal vector of trans-Asian politics strengthens, the article concludes. the likelihood of developing intra-regional structures oriented towards conservative values and ideas increases.

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