Beyond economics : growth triangles in Southeast Asia

Growth triangles, a form of transnational production bloc in which labor, technology, and capital can move freely, have been developing across the Asia-Pacific region. Cases taken from Southeast Asia--the South China Economic Zone, the Sijori Triangle, and the new wave of zones in maritime and mainland Southeast Asia--are examined to show that these phenomena cannot be seen in economic terms alone. There are significant political and social implications deriving from their emergence, and their future development will be affected by domestic politics within and the broader state of relations between the participating countries. The article also explores the question of whether growth triangles have been driven mainly by business or government initiative.