A Study On The Multilateral Security Behaviors Of The United States In The Asia-Pacific Region In The Post-Cold War Era

This paper makes a specific study on the multilateral security behaviors of the US in the Asia-Pacific region in the Post-Cold War era, aiming to make clear: 1) what kind of multilateral security arrangements the US prefers, 2) what are the patterns and dynamics of America's multilateral security behaviors, and 3) how the security role of the US has changed.The study features the following: First, "multilateral security behavior", the concept for analysis, is originally defined and employed to describe how the US has managed to achieve its security benefits and goals in the Asia-Pacific region by engaging in and establishing multilateral security arrangements. Second, region, rather than the traditional "Three Images", is targeted as the level of analysis, with a view to explaining regional security matters from regional perspective. Third, significant amendments and supplements are made to John G. Ruggi's theory of multilateralism, upon which the paper is based. Finally, in terms of research methods, this paper employs both traditional ones like historical, qualitative and comparative methods and modern tools such as text analysis, quantitative method and case study.This paper is divided into six sections, including Introduction, Main Body (fourchapters) and Conclusion.The purposes of Introduction are: 1) defining the two core concepts of "the Asia-Pacific region" and "the multilateral security behavior"; 2) explaining the practical and theoretical significances of this research; 3) raising the research questions; 4) reviewing the relevant literatures on this study; and 5) elaborating the theoretical tools and research methods employed in this paper.Chapter One mainly deals with the multilateral security conceptions and practices in the Asia-Pacific region. The author first makes a new and broad definition of "multilateral security" and identifies five multilateral security patterns in theoretical rather than empirical terms, among which common security and cooperative security are the important ideational basis for the multilateral security cooperation in this region. Then follows the historical investigation of the multilateral security initiatives and efforts made by the Asia-Pacific nations, particularly by the US, with the two cases of "the Pacific Ocean Pact" and SEATO as a focus of study. Finally, according to the redefined concept of "multilateral security" and the reestablished standards, the author sorts out some governmental and non-governmental multilateral security arrangements emerging and existing in the Asia-Pacific region after the Cold War, and analyzes them one by one.In Chapter Two, after making a general study on America's multilateral behaviors, the author looks specifically into the multilateral security behaviors of the US in the Asia-Pacific region in the Post-Cold War era. Vertically different American administrations have different attitudes and approaches to the multilateral security dialogue and cooperation; horizontally the US shows a preference for the multilateral security, which is treated as one means of its security presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Finally, the author discusses two models of the multilateral security behaviorsof the US: participating and establishing.Chapter Three and Chapter Four consist of case studies, focusing on ASEAN Regional Forum and Six-Party Talks. Chapter three investigates empirically America's attitudes towards and behaviors within ARF and explains theoretically the driving forces behind America's participation in ARF. In Chapter four, the author first analyzes the unilateral, bilateral and multilateral approaches actually and potentially taken by the US in solving the North Korea nuclear issue, and then makes a specific study on the Six-Party Talks and the dynamics behind America's behaviors.Finally, this paper comes to three conclusions. 1) The US prefers the multilateral security arrangements with functional substance and institutionalized form. 2) Generally, the US has needs for multilateral security in the Asia-Pacific region in the Post-Cold War era. Nevertheless, in contrast with its ambivalence in participating the existing multilateral security arrangements, the US has deliberately sought to initiate some multilateral security efforts with intended goals and tactic calculations. 3) Within the new multilateral security framework, America's freedom of action has been constrained and its security role has been transformed from leadership to partnership.