| The strategic goal of this paper is to examine how the dynamics of a new type of great power politics (NTGPP) is unfolding in the case of the East Asian region. The same is happening mainly in the form of strategic regionalism and institutional politics. The former happens when regional free trade arrangements are being securitized, that is, directed for geostrategic and geopolitical intents and purposes. The latter, more specifically, happens in two ways, namely:(1) intra-or "micro-institutional" politics and (2) inter-or "macro-institutional" politics. Institutions in this paper are classified as either (a) "soft" or (b) "hard" institutions. Soft institutions would encompass regional and multilateral free trade arrangements, international regimes, international forums and ad hoc bodies, while hard institutions would consist of international financial institutions and formal international organizations that have deep levels of institutionalization and/or aim for regional integration. The types of institutions and institutional politics both highlight the inextricable nexus between the politics and the economics in international relations, most especially on the backdrop of growing strategic competition and geopolitical rivalry involving major powers. Moreover, the continued technological advancement of lethal military weapons systems serving as credible deterrents and constraints for war, also act as "diversionary forces" that channels strategic competition to happen to other areas of international politics. Therefore, it could be said that there is an emerging "sixth dimension" of operation aside from air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace-that is, "institutional space." This paper would proceed by discussing:(1) "realist institutionalism" as an integrated theoretical framework of this study; (2) the strategic role of ASEAN as an indispensable East Asian actor in East Asian affairs and institutional architecture; (3) China’s rise and the strategic rationale of Chinese-led institutions in East Asia; (4) the US Rebalance to Asia (R2A) and the strategic theory of US-led institutions in East Asia; and (5) the geoeconomics, geopolitics, and geostrategy of institutional politics in East Asia. Lastly, this paper would conclude by nuancing which areas and institutions the NTGPP is most pronounced and provide a brief political forecast in relation to East Asia’s regional integration trajectories and institutional architecture. |
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