Emergence of superblocs means a bright future
- Source: Global Times
- [08:32 November 20 2009]
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By Gavin Mowat
Is it just me, or do the EU, North American Free Trade Area (FTA), and the East Asian FTA look like the beginnings of the three superstates Eurasia, Oceania and Eastasia featured in the book 1984?
As the world's economy becomes more regionalized under an ever increasing list of acronyms, we can't help but draw similarities to author George Orwell's nightmare depiction of a dystopia.
Yet the similarity is flimsy at best, ending almost before it begins in geographical likeness.
The fictional superstates and their real life counterparts are made up of countries and re-gions that are more or less the same, give or take.
However, in 1984 the three superstates form out of perpetual war with each other, something that can't be compared with today.
In 2009 blocs are forming to ensure the free movement of goods, services, people and capital between countries and regions. The very essence of today's "economic blocs" demands a certain level of cooperation between both partners and competitors.
Recent comments by the Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama about an East Asian Community (EAC) receiving support from the Chinese, and the EU ratifying the Lisbon Treaty and being about to install its first president both demonstrate this.
Motivated by a presumed need for self-preservation in the face of a perceived threat, countries once sought solace in cooperation with allies.
But unlike in 1984, in 2009 countries no longer seem to be restricted to forging partnerships with nations of similar political ideology; instead the universal constant of the economy seems to be the driving force.
Comments made by Japan's PM and the Chinese response are a good example of this. According to the Xinhua News Agency, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama "said his govern-ment would promote the long-term idea of an EAC modeled on the EU with a common cur-rency."
The official Chinese response from Jiang Yu, Foreign Ministry spokesman, was re-soundingly positive. Jiang said it is the long-term goal to establish an EAC to boost economic and social development in the region. This is a far cry from 1984 where co-operation was orchestrated by suspicion and domination.
