东盟的中心地位:一个网络视角的分析

ASEAN Centrality:An Analysis from the Network Perspective

东盟在东亚区域合作中的中心地位是近年来学界的重要议题,而对这一问题的刻画和测度仍然需要更加深入和细化的研究。根据社会网络理论与分析法,在关系网络的情境下,中心性指标能够量化行为体在网络结构中的位置和重要性,进而反映行为体的地位与影响力。网络分析证明,在东亚区域合作网络中,东盟具有最高的中心性,表明东盟在同各国的直接关系数量、对资源和信息的影响以及对各国间关系的控制和调解上具有最大的优势,在制度和互动层面占据中心地位。当前的东亚区域合作可被视为一个以东盟为中心的关系网络。在这一网络结构中,各种合作机制和政治、安全、经济等具体领域的互动建构了东盟与各国之间的关系,使其能够在区域合作议程的制定与规范的形成中发挥关键性作用,引导并协调区域合作中复杂的大国关系及影响。通过建构并巩固中心地位,东盟得以在保障和实现自身利益诉求的同时,将东亚区域合作网络中的主体紧密地联结在一起,共同推动东亚一体化进程。

The ASEAN Centrality in East Asia cooperation has been an important issue of academic study in recent years. It still needs more in-depth and detailed research to measure and characterize this kind of centrality. According to Social Network Theory, in the context of relational network, centrality can quantify the positions and importance of actors in network structure as an index, and then reflect their status and influence. Network analysis proves that ASEAN has the highest centrality in the regional cooperation network. This result indicates that ASEAN has the greatest advantage in the number of direct relations with other countries, the impact on the resources and information, and the control of the relations among countries. It makes ASEAN occupy the centrality at the institutional and interactive levels. The current regional cooperation in East Asia can be considered as a relational network with ASEAN as its core. In this network, all kinds of cooperation mechanisms and the interactions in specific areas, such as politics, security and economy, construct the relations between ASEAN and other actors. It makes ASEAN play a key role in the agendas of regional cooperation and the formation of norms, while guiding and coordinating the complex relations of the super powers. By constructing and consolidating its centrality, ASEAN is able to link the actors in the regional cooperation network closely and promote the regional integration process while ensuring and realizing its own interest demands.