Future Contributions to East Asian Human Security

Abstract

As outlined in Chapter 1, there is no doubt that, from a state-centric perspective, East Asia represents an extremely successful region of development in terms of both economic growth and stable and secure governance. The challenging case studies in this volume demonstrate, however, that some states in the region and some regions within states have yet to share in this success. Moreover, this book identifies serious shortcomings, from both normative and pragmatic perspectives, in adhering solely to state-centric measurements of security, development, and governance. Although East Asia has been identified as a region particularly wedded to Westphalian notions of statehood, the region is gradually becoming suffused with human-centric governance norms as a result of influence and pressure from internal and external normative constituencies. This has led to something of an overlapping consensus, where, from different historical and normative backgrounds, nevertheless, those who govern have become aware of an imperative to consider the protection and promotion of human security through the provision of havens free from fear and want.