Sample Chapter - United Nations University

12 Yoshinobu Yamamoto
has not undergone much integration at the societal level. On the other
hand, there could also be a region in which societal integration has progressed
significantly, i.e., there is close communication between the peoples
in the region, their fundamental values are consistent with each
other and even shared, and a regional identity can be seen to a significant
extent. 13 Societal integration in this sense progresses via a mechanism
in which communication and contact between populations increase,
shared values and a shared identity are formed as trade and other communication
between nations in the region increase and economic integration
(A in Figure 1.3) progresses (hence the term “communication theory”).
There are also deliberate attempts (as a matter of policy) to foster mutual
understanding and create shared values and a shared identity in a
region by increasing cultural exchanges and communication between
populations.
When discussing regional societal integration, one can also consider
identity and the sharing of values among the elite. For example, if the
foreign relations elite share norms regarding relationships between nations
(such as cooperation or peaceful conflict resolution) and domestic
and international norms (such as human rights and political freedom),
one could say that in terms of the elite societal integration has made progress
in that region. Societal integration at that level can become possible
through repeated contact, education and learning and through socialization
in general.
Of course, in terms of both form and degree, societal integration among
the elite and societal integration among ordinary people sometimes differs
and is sometimes consistent (Ikenberry and Kupchan, 1990; Schimmelfenning,
2000). However, there are two things one must keep in mind.
First, societal integration is almost always the result of a slow process involving
learning and socialization, not something caused deliberately and
immediately. Second, although societal integration is thought to influence
economic integration and security, it does so from below, by creating a
foundation, and does not necessarily directly produce specific policies or
institutions. 14
(3) Security
Next, let us look at pluralistic security communities. The formation of a
pluralistic security community depends not only on Deutschian shared
fundamental values in a society (B in Figure 1.3) but also on close economic
interdependence (A) and rules that govern relationships between
the nations in a region (D) (Adler and Barnett, 1998; Russett, 1998).
Here, “pluralistic security community” does not refer to a situation in
which national sovereignty is delegated (in fact, the principles of respect
for sovereignty and non-intervention in internal affairs are emphasized)