The Social Construction of Regional Identity
Abstract
The formation of regional identity in international relations, a new phenomenon. The current emphasis on international relations scholars agree that the construction of identity for the study area provides a theoretical basis, has important academic significance. According to the EU's experience in international relations theory can be studied from three aspects of the construction of regional identity: first, the cross between the various actors interact and exchange; Second, the role of international mechanisms; third, "we consciousness" and relative to the construction of otherness. Emphasis on regional identity construction of the regional integration important to study, but we also pay attention to the conditions of regional identity construction. The formation of regional identities is a new phenomenon in the developments of international relations. Currently, scholars lay emphasis on the constructiveness of identity, which provides a theoretical basis for researches on regional identities. According to EU experience, IR theory can be applied to the analysis in three aspects: first, transnational interaction and communication among different agents; second, the role of international regime; third, "we awareness" and identity construction in reference to the "others". While it is important to emphasize the constructiveness of regional identity in regional integration studies, we shall be fully aware that such construction is conditioned rather than vice versa