An Analysis Of Educational Exchange, Environmental Sustainability And Transportation Under An APEC Framework

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, a regional organization focusing on theeconomic ties that surround its members, has had the opportunity to develop itself over theyears since its induction in1989. This thesis focuses on the challenges and opportunities thathave come about through the involvement of non-security issues and how they have beenlimiting factors for the development as well as how APEC has managed to overcome theseobstacles. The focus will be made on analyzing the linkages between economic cooperationand environmental sustainability, education and transportation.The theory of institutions is assessed in terms of how its limitations have swayed theway interactions between all its21members and its effects on international and regionaleconomic growth and development. Additionally, the theory is used to analyze the way inwhich non-security issues such as education, environmental sustainability and transportationhave improved the cooperation that exists between the members specifically the developingmembers as they have had more to gain through the course of the25years of APEC’screation and the limitations that have arisen throughout this time. The Spillover effect isadditionally used to explain the extent in which developed members policies becameinfluential in the decisions made in regards to the development and cooperation that tookplace between them and the developing members. This point is highlighted in the analysis ofthe issues from both developing and developed members’ points of views.APEC has worked determinedly to create an environment that demands to advance theeconomic growth of the region and has managed to improve the situations of both developingand developed economies of the region. With the development of the Trans PacificPartnership, it can be seen that many of the major powers in the region have begun to worktowards the completion of APEC and through its non-binding nature; APEC does not andcannot enforce its members. Furthermore, this thesis aims to illustrate the importance of non-security issues in affecting the real cooperation between all states in this region and thus cancontinue to influence the international arena’s developmental goals.The thesis is divided into four main chapters that highlight the background, theunderstanding of APEC, the theory of institutions and its limitation in terms of APEC’s non-binding nature and the issues mentioned above to fully comprehend the extent of work thathas been done in regards to the region’s developmental needs.