Preface

Asia and the Pacific’s burgeoning population and economic growth present a unique backdrop for the challenges of the new globalized era. Interdependence in the region, born of rapid globalization, is manifest in increased flows between countries of goods, services, capital, ideas, information and people. As such, the traditional paradigm of “national” problems and challenges that do not transcend political boundaries is outdated. Essential to this shift is the issue of externalities, where costs and benefits may be assumed by countries and people who in any given situation have little or no control over the decisions which resulted in them. Driven by these new realities, the international community has been forced to reassess development, cross-border governance issues and other issues of shared concern.

Related Subject(s): Democracy and Governance