Asia in flux: network power, new regionalism, and global development

This article introduces the special issue titled ‘Asia in flux: network power, new regionalism, and global development’. Alongside the other 13 articles, it examines the dynamics of Asian regionalisation through three interlinked themes: trade/production regimes, financial flows, and sociocultural networks. The collective message is that industrial upgrading across the region is rarely automatic, and very few economies have fully overcome the unequal terms of exchange imposed by more advanced nations. Financial flows, from foreign direct investment to infrastructure loans, offer both opportunities and challenges, often exposing domestic economies to the strategic agendas of major powers. Sociocultural assemblages, in various forms, mediate these political-economic forces, in turn shaping the winners and losers of region-building. Taken together, these articles provide a nuanced lens for understanding Asia’s past and ongoing regionalisation, offering insights into the complex interplay of forces shaping the region’s future.