European Foreign Policy and the Asia - Europe Alliance

Current literature on regionalism looks at non state actors in governance such as Foundations as an adjunct to the state, or in isolation. This paper, from the perspective of New Regionalism, argues that the emergence of informal networks of governance, made all the more powerful because of globalisation, play a major part in the strengthening of democratic mores in the region. It looks at an example of one such governance network—the Asia Europe foundation, views the dynamic relationship between EU and Asia through the Asia Europe Foundation and argues that collaborations and cooperation that involve governmental as well other regional organizations on an informal basis are an emerging factor in governance systems in East Asia , though the state remains central to the region. Address for correspondence: Jenny Lind Elmaco Junior Research Group on European Civil Society and Multilevel Governance Telefon: (0049) (0251) 510 38 – 25 Mobil: (0049) (0174) 7869707 Telefax: (0049) (0251) 510 38 – 24 Email: [email protected] 1 Jenny Lind Elmaco, M.A. is a Junior Researcher of the Research Group on European Civil Society and Multi-level Governance, Westfälische Wilhelms Universität Muenster, Germany. Sabil Francis, MPhil, M.A. is a European Commission Scholar for the Erasmus Mundus Masters in Global Studies. He has been identified with York University, Uppsala University and Jawarhalal Nehru University for a number of historical research projects.