Esercizi Filosofici 18 (2023)

The objective of this paper is to analyse the ‘sui generis’ identity of Japan in the context of the East Asian Region and to demonstrate how it contributed to shape the country’s role in East Asia’s region-building. Japan’s position in the region has been complex due to its unique identity generated by historical background, geopolitical factors, economic development and relations with its Western allies. This identity facilitated Japan’s objective to build a cohesive regional community through the promotion of ‘open regionalism’ and the country’s active participation in regional and interregional fora including ASEAN. Following the introduction, the article provides an overview of Japan’s multifaceted identity in its diplomacy and how the country has utilised different elements of its identity in varying historical and political circumstances. By looking into official discourse from the vantage point of its identity, it then examines Japan’s cooperation with regional actors, highlighting its active involvement without assuming a leading role. The last section concludes the article, summarizes the findings and provides a short outlook.

The 1990s have seen a tremendous upsurge of regionalism in all parts of the world. In the process, the unfolding institutional global governance architecture became increasingly vertically and horizontally differentiated. The new interregional fora, which proliferated in the 1990s as a new layer of global governance, attracted a lot of scholarly attention. Taking Asia-Europe relations as an example, scholars sought to make sense of interregionalism and attached to it functions of which they believed they would promote global governance. One of the functions attributed to interregionalism was regional identity building. The regular interaction of regional fora, scholars argued, would strengthen regional identity. “Regionalism through interregionalism” was Heiner Hänggi’s much quoted formula for this anticipated effect. Yet, viewed from hindsight, there are few indications that interregionalism has strengthened European and Asian regional identities. The greatest impact on regional identities emanated from the group-to-group ASEAN-EU dialogue relations, while the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) as a transregional forum has developed into a typical institution of what has been categorized as “diminished multilateralism.” Hybrid interregionalism, that is, region-to-group relations, have even less impacted regional identities. Only in the EU-China relationship, they ambiguously affected European regional identity.

Does cross-border cooperation in the Upper Adriatic, which includes parts of Italy and Slovenia, significantly impact regional identities and foster community cohesion? This study explores Europeanization and the effects of EU-funded initiatives like Interreg, highlighting how top-down approaches combined with bottom-up responses promote regional integration and foster a multi-layered citizenship that transcends national boundaries. Through a practice analytical framework, the collaborative dynamics among local, regional, and supra-national actors are examined, particularly in the context of cross-border projects that offer socio-economic and cultural benefits. The analysis focuses on communities of practice, such as minority groups, stakeholders, and institutional bodies, and their role in fostering cultural and socio-political connections.

As Europe contends with globalisation and regionalism, the evolving dynamics of identity and community within European integration are increasingly critical. This paper explores identity formation and community building at the EU’s internal borders, grounded in Aristotelian political theory, particularly insights from “Politics” and “Nicomachean Ethics.” It examines the ‘polis’ as essential for human flourishing and applies this classical framework to modern European border regions. The central research question is: How do European border regions balance local identities within broader networks, and what does this mean for European integration? Using case studies from the b-solutions compendium, the paper hypothesizes that local autonomy and cross-border cooperation enhance both identity preservation and community integration. These case studies highlight practical challenges and solutions in cross-border interactions, emphasizing the importance of harmonizing local and supranational interests. The article outlines Aristotelian philosophical foundations, analyses empirical data, and offers policy recommendations, linking theory with practical insights into Europe’s borderlands.