If change is occurring in East Asia, it will be manifest in the historically specific institutions that have distinguished the region. Focusing on key institutions allows us both to identify possible sources of, or resistance to change, and provides a way of conceptualising its extent. In this manner it is possible to distinguish change that may - or may not - be occurring at the national level, from developments which may be taking place at the sectoral or even the regional level. Moreover, an institutional focus allows us to identify possible sources of, or obstacles to change, and to distinguish those that may be internal to the region from those that may be external. In this way, it is possible to build up a picture of the forces that are shaping the region, allowing us to develop a more accurate picture of post-crisis east Asia, one that transcends the limitations country specific analysis
