The “Mega-Asia” perspective emerged from the recognition that a new way of perceiving Asia is required for the 21st century. Developed out of this need was a research framework that supported the investigation of Asia at multiple scales, including the adoption of Asia itself as the unit of analysis. Such a multi-scaler approach allowed previously unrecognized connections between distant regions and countries within Asia to be explored and the reality and dynamics of an interconnected Asia to be revealed. This, in turn, allowed new sub-regions within Asia to be considered. Ultimately, this new way of approaching the region made it possible for Asia to be defined not by its otherness to the West but as an ever-changing concept, transformed and reconstituted by the dynamics of its respective (variously scaled) parts.

In this session, the core concepts of the “Mega-Asia” perspective will be introduced, along with a critical assessment of its possibilities and shortcomings. However, as the “Mega-Asia” perspective represents merely one of many ways of re-imagining Asia, we invite researchers to participate in this session to talk about other ways of approaching and perceiving Asia or its sub-regions. We welcome contributions from both the humanities and social sciences, including historical analysis of past and present imaginations of Asia or its sub-regions (e.g. the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, Indo-Pacific, BRI, Zomia, etc.) or studies tracing how imaginations of Asia are constructed through discourse.

Of the many ways of approaching Asia, researchers of the “Mega-Asia” project have actively undertaken comparative studies on various regions at multiple scales to obtain a better understanding of the patterns and variations demonstrating the reality of Asia in the present day. Undertaking regional comparison and combining this with area-specific expertise is not a novel approach. However, the “Mega-Asia” research framework also combines the explicit use of comparative methods with a multi-scaler approach towards regions. This is why the comparative research methodology of the “Mega-Asia” project is referred to as “Comparative Regional Studies (CRS)”, vis-à-vis “Comparative Area Studies (CAS).”

In this session, the core concepts of “Comparative Regional Studies (CRS)” will be introduced, along with a critical assessment of its possibilities and shortcomings. In addition, the way in which “Comparative Regional Studies (CRS)” differs from “Comparative Area Studies (CAS)” will be examined. We invite researchers who have applied the CAS methodology to Asian studies to participate in this session to present the results of their research and provide insights on the differences between CRS and CAS. There are, of course, other various ways of carrying out comparative research on Asia that do not fall under the category of CAS or CRS. Therefore, we also invite Asian Studies researchers who have utilized other methods of comparative analysis to present their work at this session and demonstrate how their respective comparative approaches have been useful in identifying and tracing the drivers and dynamics of the relationships between Asia’s composite parts, ultimately facilitating the investigation of Asia’s identities diachronically, synchronically, and at multiple scales.

The “Mega-Asia” research team has actively utilized the vast amounts of data generated since the advent of the digital era to quantitatively analyze the regional dynamics and interconnectivity of Asia. Integrated with qualitative approaches, the data-driven research has enabled the visualization of newly emerging networks within Asia, the identification of interaction patterns across regions, and a multi-dimensional exploration of Asian identities.

This session aims to demonstrate how data should not be regarded merely as a supplementary tool for research but rather as an analytical instrument that gives empirical substance to various imaginations of Asia or its sub-regions, such as “Mega-Asia.” We invite researchers working with data to participate in this session and demonstrate the way in which data can be used in various ways to illustrate how Asia is not a singular, fixed entity but rather a dynamic space shaped by overlapping and evolving historical experiences, economic interactions, cultural diffusion, and social mobility will be examined as part of this theme. Papers addressing the challenges related to the application of data-driven research in Asian studies, including issues such as data bias, uneven data accessibility, the balance between quantitative and qualitative analysis, and the need for co-work to facilitate context-sensitive interpretations of data-driven research results, are also welcomed.

This session examines the evolving landscape of pro-democracy movements across the region. Through comparative case studies and discussions, it aims to provide deeper insights into the dynamics of grassroots mobilization and the potential for regional cooperation in navigating the challenges of contemporary democracy.

We invite papers that address the resurgence of democratic activism, the transformative impact of the digital revolution, or the active engagement of the MZ generation in political and social movements. Additionally, contributions that can provide insights on the rise of counter-movements that seek to undermine democratic efforts or an analysis of how these opposing forces shape the trajectory of civil society in Asia are also welcome.

This session examines the ways in which migration practices contribute to shaping a more interconnected and networked Asia, with emphasis on the social, economic, and political implications of human mobility across the region. Ultimately, it aims to provide a nuanced understanding of migration as both a structural phenomenon and an agent-driven process that continuously redefines Asia’s interconnected landscape.

We invite papers that explore how migration practices can actively foster transnational connections, economic opportunities, cultural exchanges, and social networks, which reinforce regional integration. We also welcome contributions with a particular focus on issues of immigration governance in the context of neoliberal transitions and global inequality, which assess how state policies, labor markets, and international frameworks influence migration flows and the lived experiences of migrants.

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