Name: Lara, Paul Jerick B.

Section: T- 6R

Student. No: 2015-01931

Date: August 19, 2015
Think Piece 1

The sense of an Asian unity is the contemporary idea of Asia but as historians would put
it, point of views about Asian unity from different walks of life vary from context to context. In
fact, the idea of an Asian unity would be more of a fictitious thought than a vivid one. The idea
of Asia is simply a free-floating signifier without a specific signification [1]. It might be
considerable to say that the regions in Asia are not actually united, thus, the absences of any real
agreement on the credentials of an Asian identity disorient the Asians who have been the
subject of matter for this discourse. The variety of perceptions among the religion, history,
tradition, language and much more within Asia makes it relatively perplex to classify it as One
Asia.
To what extent should we really see ourselves as part of a cultural entity? Asians are
inherent of their culture in as much as they gain experiences from within their culture. Belonging
to a cultural entity, in which they form factions, may include share ties of their religious belief,
perceptions in life and other means of involving culture. Together they shape their personalities
and their view of the world with respect to the cultural society. Furthermore, learning to
appreciate ones culture develops tolerance against social problems such as being racist, sexist,
homophobic, transphobic, abhorrent, etc. We can justify the human rights weve been promoting
if and only if we have regarded cultural entity as the basis for Asian unity.
If we could depict that cultural entity makes up Asian unity, how can it be specifically
related to the saying Asia is one? As said by Okakura Tenshin (1862-1913), the idea Asia is
one mainly points out the diverse culture of Asia being brought together and spread it to other
regions. However, some regions like Japan did not allow such interference or cultural bonds
among other regions in Asia because they want to separate themselves and form a manifestation
of European identity. It turned out to be that Asia is not united as a whole because it cannot
establish a firm connection between its regions.
What is the real substance of an Asian unity? From my understanding, Asian unity should
be more than just relating Asians to their culture rather involve them through strong ties and
develop regions in Asia by teaching them to handle their economic sphere, resolve environmental
problems and create a system to unite Asia regions. Thus, implementation of such ideological
thinking proves that Asia is not united for they can not manipulate themselves without the aid of
the European colonial powers. Despite shared values and beliefs, we have harnessed the
elements of governance through them and link regions in Asia together as one. I have regarded

European notion as the key concept of Asia because only then, when the Europeans took over us,
did we become united.
References
(1) Milner, Anthony and Johnson, Deborah, The Idea of Asia,
(https://digitalcollections.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/41891/1/idea.html#fn1) p.1., accessed 16
August 2015.
(2) Hui, Wang, Reclaiming Asia from the West: Rethinking Global History,
(http://www.japanfocus.org/-Wang-Hui/1781/article.html) p.2., accessed 17
August 2015.