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Initiatives of Regional Integration in Asia in Comparative Perspective pp 83–98Cite as

The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) – Infrastructure Development and the Prospects for the Emergence of a Security Community

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Part of the book series: United Nations University Series on Regionalism ((UNSR,volume 14))

Abstract

The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) is an example of successful subregional cooperation in East Asia between the neighboring countries China, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, all of which are linked through trade, investment and people movements. This chapter asks whether the development of infrastructure in the GMS prompts the emergence of a pluralistic community in the sense of Karl W. Deutsch. It is argued that the increase of cross-border transactions between the GMS member countries creates a solid foundation for the evolution of a security community. After a brief analytical introduction, GMS infrastructure projects with a focus on sub-regional economic corridors are being examined.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Class 1—an expressway that is sealed completely from pedestrians with concrete barriers on both sides of the road; class 2—a three-lane highway with unsealed sides and no middle dividers with a speed limit of 80 km per hour; class 3—a two-lane narrow and winding road with a speed limit of 60 km per hour (ADB 2010c: 76).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Monash University, Malaysian Campus, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

    Timotheus Krahl

  2. University of Rostock, Institut für Politik- und Verwaltungswissenschaften, Ulmenstraße 69, 18057, Rostock, Germany

    Jörn Dosch

Authors
  1. Timotheus Krahl
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  2. Jörn Dosch
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Correspondence to Timotheus Krahl .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Political Science, Friedrich-Alexander Universität, Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany

    Howard Loewen

  2. Centre for Mediterranean Studies, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany

    Anja Zorob

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Krahl, T., Dosch, J. (2018). The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) – Infrastructure Development and the Prospects for the Emergence of a Security Community. In: Loewen, H., Zorob, A. (eds) Initiatives of Regional Integration in Asia in Comparative Perspective. United Nations University Series on Regionalism, vol 14. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1211-6_4

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