1 Eastphalian Sovereignty: East Asia’s Principle of the Status Quo Lonnie Edge Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Paper Prepared for ISA Global South Singapore 2015 Abstract: This research intends to show an alternative to the global north in IR theorizing and potential for contribution by the global south to the field by questioning a basic component of contemporary IR theory; Westphalian Sovereignty. This foundation of the nation states system creates the realist assumption of the security dilemma. With no overarching authority, states act on their own behalf in accordance with the norms of a self- help system. This theory is used to explain the lack of regional institutions in Northeast Asia International co-operation expected by liberal scholars such as Rawls requires liberal democracy and mutual respect for human rights. This is a system and theory created by the global north. However, this research offers an alternative based on theories of Foucault and Bordieu whereby the definition of sovereignty as discourse acts as habitus for constraining state behaviour. ASEAN acts as a counterfactual case and demonstrates that a regional institution based on the same norms of Westphalian Sovereignty also leads to international co-operation. This is because principles of Westphalian sovereignty, representing legitimacy of the status quo, are respected and adhered by the member states by ASEAN much as the status quo of the hierarchical order had been during the Chinese tributary system. “Eastphalian Sovereignty” currently adhered to by a region of the global south, may in fact show the global north an alternate paradigm for IR theory and hope for Northeast Asian regional co-operation.