The Development of APEC’s Institutionalization: The Emergence of a Semi-binding Decision and the Institutional Enhancement of its Secretariat
Author: Tzu-chin Chou
Abstract / Chinese PDF Download
APEC was established in the late 1980s as a non-binding regional forum, rather than a formal international organization. Its flexible, informal way of operation helps its members to work together given their diversities in terms of their development level and strategic interests. However, skeptics believe APEC’s ineffectiveness is a result of its loose way of operation aforementioned. In the first two decades of the 21st century, there were cases that dismissed APEC of its “forum” nature, including the emergence of a semi-binding decision, as well as the institutional enhancement of its Secretariat. Utilizing the concept of “mobilization of bias”, this paper attempts to offer an historical explanation of these two cases, as well as an initial assessment of what they have achieved and the limitations encountered. The author argues that, in order to cope with the fast changing political economic environment in the region, APEC will need to be much more institutionalized. Further institutionalization, however, will meet challenges rooted in the divergent value systems held by its respective members, superimposed political cleavages in the region, as well as power delegation issues.