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Развитие центров хранения и обработки данных как направление цифрового регионализма на примере государств Индокитая
The chapter analyses the policies implemented by the states of the Indochina peninsula towards data centers in the context of ASEAN’s focus on digital support of its economic regionalism projects. Having outlined factors behind the significance of the infrastructure component for digital transformation of social processes, the paper proceeds to assessing digital and non-digital instruments of ASEAN-led multilateral initiatives. Finally, the paper turns to salient features of policies implemented by the Indochina states towards data center development. Generalizing from the evidence provided by those countries, the article identifies emerging patterns of approach adopted by ASEAN and its member states to digital infrastructure development. Paradoxically, although enduring global and regional trends incentivize the association and its member states to develop data centers, inefficient instruments of ASEAN’s policy undermine long-term and sustainable cooperation. Major obstacles include intra-ASEAN digital and non-digital, mostly infrastructure-related, gaps, limited legal and institutional support for trans-border data transfers, as well as superficial competences in data center maintenance. The author argues that insufficiently clear conceptual framework of ASEAN integration, as exemplified by the ASEAN Economic Community 2015 and 2025, is the most serious limitation. As the topic has not been a focus of special scholar research in Russia and in other countries, an analysis of emerging patterns in data center-related policies carried out by ASEAN and its member states has obvious academic novelty, relevance and practical significance.