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Twenty-two alternative explanations for the relative harmony of ethnic relations in HI are examined, eg, climate, lack of a primary ethnic majority, & favorable economic conditions. It is suggested this harmony is best explained by a theory of developmental amalgamationism & the culture's aloha philosophy of kindness, tenderness, unity, harmony, patience, & perseverance. Adapted from the source document.

Studies of the causes of ethnic conflict are unlikely to lead to ethnic harmony, since societal malfunctions usually come too late in the historical process for interventive strategies. Instead, there must be a vision of the conditions for ethnic peace. Some fifteen such visions exist—military hegemonism, assimilationism, nationalism, capitalism, separatism, economic interdependence theory, egalitarianism, democratization theory, amalgamationism, integrationism, consociational democracy, Gramscian hegemonism, communitarianism, political mobilization theoy, and nonviolence theory. Some of the approaches are to be discarded on moral grounds, several have been tried but failed, whereas others remain to be tested empirically.

Argues that Asia is one of the only regions of the world without a clear political agenda, for which historical reasons are here discussed & solutions offered. Asia has experienced seven waves of regional political cooperation. The first began in the mid-1940s & was characterized by the dominance of external leaders, particularly those from the West, in regional policy decision, though these attempts at establishing modern colonialism were rejected. The second wave was characterized, in the 1950s, by India's interest in creating an independent regional coalition, though many Asian countries were unable to participate because of pre-existing relationships with the West. In the third wave, regional technical organizations arose & became successful, while in the fourth, beginning in the 1960s, subregional cooperation began. Out of this fourth state, five political bodies emerged as important players, including the Asian Parliamentary Union & the Assoc of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). In the fifth wave, which began after 1975 & is still partially evident today, ASEAN became dominant in policy issues, while the South Pacific Forum assumed a large role in the South Pacific. In the sixth wave, the UN emerged as an important mediating body interested particularly in formulating a cooperative approach that would allow regions to develop independently through shared resources. The seventh wave, which began in the 1970s & endures today, has included attempts to go beyond regional, national, & superpower institutional structure & instead seeks to address issues common to the world community, particularly those regarding military, political, & trade cooperation. Some of these specific efforts are reviewed, along with the conclusion that Asian Pacific regionalism will be crucial to further economic success, despite the fact that it partially weakens national or local-regional affiliations. 28 References. Adapted from the source document.