THE UNITED STATES AND THE EAST ASIA SUMMIT

The thesis explores the reason why the US participates in the East Asia Summit (EAS). The US decided to join EAS in 2010, while the US did not join at its inauguration in 2005. From the realist perspective, the EAS participation would be explained from balance of power. The US wants to maintain its presence in the region and to hedge against China. From the liberalist perspective, it would be explained that the US enters regional cooperation and uses the multinational organizations for the regional stability because regional cooperation helps to ensure the US interest. From the constructivist perspective, the US decision would be made because the US started to cooperate with regional countries from common security perspective and started to share ASEAN Ways with the regional countries. They would also mention the Obama administration's identity as a Pacific nation. The author takes an eclectic combination of theories. The US joined the EAS mainly to maintain its presence in the region and to introduce norms and values in the region. In addition, the US decision was made as the US started sharing the interest of common security in the region and some ASEAN Ways.