From fragmentation to integration: Evolving community structure of the Asia-Pacific shipping network since 1890

The Asia-Pacific region, with its dominant maritime character, has steadily increased its importance in the global economy and transportation system over time. A global database of inter port vessel movements between 1890 and 2016 serves to map and analyze the changing topology and community structure of this maritime network, based on existing knowledge about locational, political and economic factors at stake. The principal results reveal pronounced fragmentation during the colonial period, owing to dominant external influences, followed by greater integration post-WWII, driven by national policies and the emergence of logistical hub ports. In parallel, the network is resilient as seen with the stable position of key pivotal ports. Based on the analysis of the evolving community structure, a four-stage port community evolution model within the Asia-Pacific shipping network is proposed, encompassing geographic proximity, colonial dependency, domestic and transnational communities.