Asia's New Multilateralism: Cooperation, Competition, and the Search for Community

Traditionally, stability in Asia has relied on America's bilateral alliances with Japan, Australia, and the Republic of Korea. Yet in recent years, emergent and more active multilateral forums—such as the Six-Party Talks on North Korea and the East Asia Summit—have taken precedence, engendering both cooperation and competition while reflecting the local concerns of the region.

Some are concerned that this process is moving toward less-inclusive, bloc-based "talking shops" and that the future...