By Frank O'Collins (June 2006) |
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| Before the age of European Empires and conquests, Asia was and has always been the centre of the world’s largest and most prosperous economies. Now after centuries of dominance, history sees the return of the great Asian economies to their central place as dominant influences on the future of the world. |
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| ASEAN and APEC | ||
| Unlike Europe, the Americas and Africa, there is no one single body that represents all the Asian economies. Instead, two inter-government bodies stand out above all others- ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) and APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation). |
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| ASEAN was founded in August of 1967 by Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines in response to the Chinese supported Communist expansion in Vietnam and insurgency within their own borders. During the late 1980’s ASEAN briefly tried to establish a “common market” between its various nations, with little success. |
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| APEC was founded in November 1989 through the heavy lobbying of Japan, Australia, the United States and Canada in largely a response to ASEANs push to become a trade bloc. APEC has now surpassed ASEAN in both status, broad representation and effective dialogue in its regular summits. |
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| With ASEAN and APEC, why does Asia need another? |
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| The question then is if Asia nations have both ASEAN and APEC, why does the region need another in the form of the Asia Union? |
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| The reason is simple- neither ASEAN, nor APEC represent the clear interests of Asia- only parts of Asia and some of the issues of Asia. ASEAN remains wholly suspicious and reluctant to expand its membership to be more representative, while APEC stretches well beyond the borders of Asia to encompass American states. |
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| This in itself is not the only fundamental reasons. In terms of effectiveness, APEC has been enormously positive towards bilateral dialogue between the major powers of the region. It is however, insufficient given the fast approaching economic, climate and social challenges facing Asian economies. |
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| Financial stability, social stability and environmental challenges |
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| More than any other region, Asia faces a massive price for its rapid decades of growth in terms of environmental destruction. Pollution is literally choking the powers of China and India to death. Until now, virtually every respect of the environment has been sacrificed in the name of economic growth. However, now Asian economies such as Indonesia and China are faced with the social consequences of massive pollution in rising health costs and urban populations growing concerned that their new found wealth may be under threat. |
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| In the case of China, the combination of central controls and promoting provincial autonomy to promote free market growth has been phenomenally successful in generating massive trade surpluses and new wealth within the cities of China. It has also created a whole new range of immense social challenges from rising health care costs, urban sprawl, urban slums and soon the political unrest that will come when such environments are hastily created. |
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| Unlike Europe that has experienced decades of long term under employment, the economy of China and India have been booming. Yet such growth is inevitably unsustainable, if nothing else for the structural constraints that will soon reign it in. The brand new modern slums of Chinese cities are yet to feel the challenge of underemployment like other regions of the world, however if demand is brought under control by the major partners of China, there is no doubt China will soon feel the effects of unemployed urban ghettos. |
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| This is already the experience in many other Asian cities that experienced strong decades of growth before China and India- the urban poor of Indonesia, South Korea, Thailand and the Philippines. |
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| The growing seeds of discontent |
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| History reminds us again and again, if we so choose to listen, that urban slums are the nursery of revolution-not always positive. That when faced with a prospect of no future, urban poor populations can quickly become the hostile supporters of a charismatic revolutionary and/or a social dictator. |
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| When faced with such forces, the delicate social fabric of Asian democracies and even communists central systems will be no match. For China, the prospect is no sooner than five to ten years. For other Asian nations, the underlying social unrest is fermenting much sooner. |
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| Such deep problems as long term underemployment, slow economic growth, waste and corruption are issues that often are beyond the capacity of one nation to solve on its own. Money alone will not solve these issues. What is needed are common social strategies aimed at balancing the load of change and reform across the region- a union- an Asian Union. |
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| The need for the Asia Union | ||
| A constitution is the blueprint of a society. It defines our structure, our essential rules and beliefs. It enshrines our culture and who and what we think we are. Therefore, the structure of a society is always determined by the strength of its constitution. |
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| No matter how many good people and organisations exist in Asia, no matter how many honourably intended acts of kindness are provided, poorly constructed constitutions will inevitably lead to poorly constructed societies and to sadness and evil. |
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| An ideal constitution and organisation is one that enables any democratic society to function to its optimum so that all its citizens live happy and fruitful lives and that there is harmony and peace. |
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| This is the purpose of the Asia Union. To provide a framework of strength and vision for the benefit of all citizens of Asian nations. To assist nations in solving issues of a massive nature from urban renewal, environment repair, long terms jobs growth, education, health and social justice. |
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| Above all, the Asia Union will assist those governments and nations of the regions to overcome the challenges that would otherwise spell certain doom to their present institutions and leadership at the hands of social unrest and unresolved poverty. |
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| When will the Asia Union happen and how? |
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| Like all change, the likelihood of the leaders of China, India and other major Asian nations embracing the Asia Union until the storm is upon us is slim. Pride, arrogance, over self confidence are the faults of leaders throughout history and the world. It is not unique to the region. |
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| As a result, it will probably be only after the next wave of financial crisis, of major social unrest that the leaders of Asian nations will consider the need for a deeper structure beyond merely nation to nation bi-annual summits. |
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| In the meantime, the future revolutionary leaders are being born in the slums of major polluted Asian cities. If not the present leadership, then they will have no hesitation in making change. For they are the children of our future- either a return to feudal societies ruled by ruthless despots, or a hope of a better world through deeper codependence and support to rid our world of poverty and social injustice. |
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| The Asia Union exists by its constitution. Only time will tell who recognize the seed of history and take up the call. | ||
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