APEC on track.

Once depicted as a formidable driving force for integration in Asia and the Pacific, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) now mostly draws attention of critics who tend to consider it as a failure. This paper aims at bringing careful empirical evidence to a trial that has so far seriously lacked it. We contrast this evidence with the real nature of APEC, one that many have quickly forgotten. Doing so reveals that it may not be APEC that has derailed but those who have observed it over the years. Based on our evidence, it is clearly too soon to say that APEC is a failure and is currently in a chaotic situation. The grouping has experienced an expanding agenda but not without keeping some priorities. Furthermore, leaders' declarations have been reasonably matched by a growing number of collective activities aiming at building a regional community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]