The European Union through the eyes of Asia

MSc. Tran Bach Hieu (Department of Political Science)respectfully introduce the book“The EU through the Eyes of Asia Volume II: New Cases, New Findings”,Printed by World Scientific Publishing in October 2009, 270 pages.

The book is the result of 18 months of research by researchers from New Zealand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam. Vietnamese researchers include:Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pham Quang Minh(Head of International Studies Faculty - University of Social Sciences and Humanities - VNU Hanoi),PhD. Bui Hai Dang(Deputy Head of the Faculty of International Relations - University of Social Sciences and Humanities - VNU-Ho Chi Minh City),MSc. Tran Bach Hieu(Lecturer, Department of Political Science - University of Social Sciences and Humanities - VNU Hanoi).

It can be seen that Europe and Asia have been increasingly closely linked together in recent decades. The development of mutual relations between these two continents stems from historical, cultural, economic and political ties. It is also due to the reality of the deep relationship between the two regions that scholars and researchers naturally raise the question:“How is the EU perceived in Asia?”. And this question has become a matter of attention and has made many people think more about the relationship between Asia and Europe. At the same time, the issue becomes more special when the EU has become the most important economic partner for many countries in Asia, while still emerging as a long-standing security and political dialogue partner for this continent. In light of that reality, the book“The EU through the Eyes of Asia Volume II: New Cases, New Findings”was born to meet the need to convey reliable and updated knowledge and information about new perceptions of the EU in Asia.

Starting in 2006, the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and the National Centre for European Studies (NCRE) at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand established the European Research Network in Asia (ESiA) and initiated the research project “EU in Asian Perspectives”. This first comparative research project aimed to explore in detail the perceptions of the EU in Asia. In 2009, the “EU in Asian Perspectives” research project was conducted in 12 research sites across Asia. In each region, the project attempted to systematically approach the EU’s presence through an analysis of news coverage of the EU in newspapers and reputable television channels, as well as the evaluation of the EU by Asian citizens, elites and the views of those countries’ leaders.

The bookThe European Union through Asian eyes, volume II: New cases, new research findingspresented the new findings and discoveries of the project. At the same time, the book also provided a detailed and systematic overview of the EU's presence through the research works of three research groups from Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines (also known as the "VIP" region). All data analysis and research were conducted in 2008 and the first half of 2009. In addition, the book compared the results and findings from the first phase of the project carried out in China, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Thailand in 2006 (volume 1 published in 2007). It can be said that the published research results of the project "EU through the eyes of Asians" are of great value to policy makers and leaders in both Europe and Asia.

“The European Union through Asian eyes, vol. II”is a work consisting of 7 chapters. The first three chapters of the book were conducted by researchers from the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia, providing a panoramic picture of the perceptions and images of the EU reflected in each country. In particular, Chapter 1 was conducted by three researchers Alma Maria Salvador, Leslie Advincula-lopez and Manuel Enverga, studying and investigating the image of the EU in the Philippines. Chapter 2 was written by researchers Pham Quang Minh, Bui Hai Dang and Tran Bach Hieu. This chapter specifically studies the perceptions of the EU in Vietnam through the reflection of the media, public opinion and the views of the elite and the leadership class of Vietnam. Chapter 3 was written by authors Cornelis Pieter, Frederik Luhulima, Edward Panjaitan and Anika Widiana, exploring the panoramic view of the image of the EU in Indonesia. The next three chapters of the book are the results of comparative case studies, 9 research data from all 9 Asian countries have been collected for analysis, the latest of which is data provided by research teams from Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines. Chapter 4 is written by Martin Holland. This chapter briefly describes the perceptions of the EU as a political and economic actor in the East Asian region including Japan, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Chapter 5 is written by Natalia Chaban. This chapter presents the perception of the EU image in Asian countries, expressed in the fields of society, environment and development. Chapter 6 is written by two researchers Lai Suet-yi and Natalia Chaban, comparing the perceptions and assessments of the ASEM process with the results obtained through analysis of media, public opinion and the views of leaders in all 9 Asian countries. Chapter 7, authored by Peter Ryan and the final chapter of the book, concludes the important findings of a new phase of research by the European Research Network in Asia (ESiA) project. It also addresses issues such as how to study perceptions outside the EU and thereby become a tool for clearly presenting and comprehensible policies between Asia and Europe when developing dialogue relations.

It can be said,book“The EU through the Eyes of Asia Volume II: New Cases, New Findings”has demonstrated an effective spirit of international scientific research cooperation between scholars and researchers from many countries and territories in Asia such as China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam in coordinating research with the National Center for European Studies (NCRE) at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. For Vietnamese researchers, the European Union in Vietnam research project has demonstrated a smooth, harmonious and very effective coordination between members from Hanoi National University and Ho Chi Minh City National University, between experienced researchers and young researchers - who are PhD students and master's students. When the project is completed, it is also the time when PhD students prepare to defend their theses on European cultural identity and master's students successfully defend their master's theses. At the same time, the fact that the project's research results were printed and published by the world's leading publisher - World Scientific, is a remarkable and extremely meaningful achievement for the researchers, who worked tirelessly during the period from 2007 to 2009. The book not only shows the perceptions of the EU in each individual country but also provides a comprehensive picture of the EU in all 9 Asian countries from a comparative perspective. This research result is of great significance to policy makers, people, and leaders of both continents, contributing to enhancing the understanding of cooperation, prosperity, and development of the whole world.