Deploying the Idea of Solidarity in the Formation of an East Asian Community

Kim, Sunhyuk and Schattle, Hans (2011) Deploying the Idea of Solidarity in the Formation of an East Asian Community. UNSPECIFIED. (Submitted)

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Abstract

This paper examines prospects for solidarity as a unifying idea that can inspire and promote steps toward regional political community across East Asia. Just as the European Union’s founders and its past and present visionaries have appealed consistently to an inclusive, transnational model of solidarity in framing and pursuing European integration, notions of solidarity also contain important affinities with prospects for building an East Asian community. First, the paper examines how the idea of solidarity has evolved in European political thought and especially how solidarity has emerged repeatedly as a central concept in the political development of the European Union. Then, the paper turns to East Asia and considers the relevance of solidarity as an important principle in aspirations and endeavors toward the creation of an East Asian community. We base our analysis upon a variety of sources, including statements and speeches from key political actors, scholarly books and articles, and newspaper editorials and commentaries. In contrast with interpretations that suggest the conditions for developing East Asian community are inescapably distinct from the circumstances in Europe during the second half of the 20th century, we argue that the idea of solidarity has great potential to advance regional collaboration and integration in East Asia.

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