This book gives a comprehensive survey of the development of economic regionalism and integration in East Asia against the backdrop of economic crises. It begins with a survey of major events in the formation of economic regionalism and integration against the backdrop of ASEAN centrality. It then examines the important catalytic factors of the 1997 Asian Financial crisis in spurring this process. It also details the structure of Southeast Asian integration, movements in service/trade sector integration, 2008 crisis and integration, institutionalization of regional structures, financial integration, Chiang Mai Initiative and regional production networking. It also covers area-specific integration progress and trends outside the ASEAN centrality, dubbed by some as the second and third phases of integration and regionalism in Northeast Asia, Japan, China, India and APEC. The book also focuses on the impact and effects of the current 2008 global crisis on integration and regionalism, crisis management initiatives and possible post-crisis developments such as community-building in energy and environment.
It concludes with an epilogue that outlines possible near-future trends discussed by scholars.