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ASEAN Regionalism in the 21st Century: A Review of the Community-Building Process (2003-2015)

Year 2023, Volume: 12 Issue: 2, 759 - 774, 27.04.2023
https://doi.org/10.33206/mjss.1249084

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the main motivations that led the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to adopt a community-building goal in the political-security and economic fields, the content of the community goal, and the general situation in practice. The dynamics that led ASEAN to adopt the community goal were the fact that ASEAN remained weak in the face of regional problems in the 1990s and the will of the member states for a more comprehensive ASEAN cooperation. With the goals of the political-security and economic community, ASEAN aimed to ensure regional security, combat non-traditional security threats, eliminate the gap in economic development between member countries, and achieve economic liberalization. With the goal of community, ASEAN demonstrated a strong will to develop a common stance against regional problems and diversify cooperation areas. In practice, however, in the political-security field, ASEAN remained ineffective in the South China Sea and Preah Vihear disputes and failed to tackle non-traditional security threats comprehensively. On the other hand, in terms of economy, ASEAN achieved positive economic growth, decreased tariffs, and reduced the economic development gap between ASEAN-6 and Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar (VLCM). From this point of view, although there were problems in both areas of cooperation, this study concludes that in the community-building process, the economic field in the ASEAN regionalism was relatively more successful than in the political area.

References

  • ASEAN-AADMER Work Programme. (2010). Retrieved from: https://cil.nus.edu.sg/databasecil/2010-2015-asean-agreement-on-disaster-management-and-emergency-response-work-programme/.
  • ASEAN. (2016a). Retrieved from: https://asean.org/storage/2012/05/ASEAN-Statistic-Yearbook-2015_r.pdf.
  • The ASEAN Secretariat. (2016b). ASEAN statistical yearbook 2015. Retrieved from: https://www.aseanstats.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ASEAN-Statistical-Yearbook-2015_small_size.pdf.
  • ASEAN. (2017a). Retrieved from: https://asean.org/storage/2012/05/ASEAN_MDG_2017.pdf.
  • The ASEAN Secretariat. (2017b). ASEAN statistical report on millennium development goals 2017. Retrieved from: http://www.aseanstats.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/ASEAN_MDG_2017.pdf.
  • ASEAN. (2018a). Retrieved from: https://www.aseanstats.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/ASEAN-Key-Figures-2018.pdf.
  • The ASEAN Secretariat. (2018b). ASEAN key figures 2018. Retrieved from: https://www.aseanstats.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/ASEAN-Key-Figures-2018.pdf.
  • Aggarwal, Vinod K., & Chow, Jonathan T. (2010). The perils of consensus: how ASEAN’s meta-regime undermines economic and environmental cooperation, Review of International Political Economy, 17(2), 262-290.
  • Allison, L., & Taylor, M. (2017). ASEAN’s ‘people-oriented’ aspirations: civil society influences on non-traditional security governance. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 71(1), 24-41.
  • ASCC Plan of Action. (2012). Retrieved from: https://asean.org/?static_post=the-asean-socio-cultural-communityascc-plan-of-action.
  • AEC Blueprint. (2008). ASEAN economic community blueprint. Retrieved from: https://asean.org/wpcontent/uploads/archive/5187-10.pdf.
  • APSC Blueprint. (2009). ASEAN political-security community blueprint. Retrieved from: https://asean.org/wpcontent/uploads/images/archive/5187-18.pdf.
  • ASCC Blueprint. (2009). ASEAN socio-cultural community blueprint. Retrieved from: https://asean.org/wpcontent/uploads/archive/5187-19.pdf.
  • Azis, I. J. (2018). ASEAN economic integration: quo vadis? Journal of Southeast Asian Economies, 35(1): 2-12.
  • Caballero-Anthony, M. (2014). Understanding ASEAN’s centrality: bases and prospects in an evolving regional architecture. The Pacific Review, 27(4), 563-584.
  • Caouettea D. & Côté D. B. (2011). Ripe for a new Asian multilateralism? ASEAN and contemporary regional dynamics. European Journal of East Asian Studies, 10(1), 5-36.
  • Chen, L., & Lombaerde, P. D. (2019). ASEAN between globalization and regionalization. Asia Pacific Business Review, 25(5), 729-750.
  • Collins, A. (2008). A people-oriented ASEAN: a door ajar or closed for civil society organizations? Contemporary Southeast Asia, 30(2), 313-331.
  • Cuyvers, L. (2019). The ‘ASEAN way’ and ASEAN’s development gap with Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam: a critical view. Asia Pacific Business Review, 25(5), 683-704.
  • Cuyvers, L., Chen, L., Lombaerde P. D. (2019). 50 years of regional integration in ASEAN. Asia Pacific Business Review, 25(5), 609-618.
  • Emmers, R. (2018). Unpacking ASEAN neutrality: The quest for autonomy and impartiality in Southeast Asia. Contemporary Southeast Asia, 40(3), 349-370.
  • Hassan, M. J. (2015). Trust-building in Southeast Asia: what made it possible? In Ooi Kee Beng and others (Eds.), The 3rd ASEAN Reader (pp. 313-316). Singapore: ISEAS.
  • Hew, D. (2015). Towards an ASEAN economic community by 2015. In Ooi Kee Beng and others (Eds.), The 3rd ASEAN Reader (pp. 221-225). Singapore: ISEAS.
  • Jakarta Post (08.08.2003).
  • Jakarta Post (07.04.2010).
  • Jakarta Post (08.08.2012).
  • Jakarta Post (07.02.2013).
  • Idris, A., & Kamaruddin, N. (2019). Challenges and opportunities; lessons for ASEAN post 50. Idris Aida & Nurliana Kamaruddin (Eds.), ASEAN Post-50: Emerging Issues and Challenges (pp. 239-247). Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Lim, M. (2015). Civil society and the ASEAN community. In Ooi Kee Beng and others (Eds.), The 3rd ASEAN Reader (pp. 278-283). Singapore: ISEAS.
  • Mahbubani, K., & Sng, J. (2017). The ASEAN miracle: a catalyst for peace. Singapore: Ridge Books.
  • Martel, S. (2017). From ambiguity to contestation: discourse(s) of non-traditional security in the ASEAN community. The Pacific Review, 30(4), 549-565.
  • McGillivray, M., Feeny, S., & Iamsiraroj S. (2015). Understanding the ASEAN development gap. In Ooi Kee Beng and others (Eds.), The 3rd ASEAN Reader (pp. 95-98). Singapore: ISEAS.
  • Murray, P. (2020). Managing security: reimagining ASEAN’s regional role. Asian Studies Review, 44(1), 44-60.
  • Nair, D. (2011). ASEAN’s core norms in the context of the global financial crisis: is the crisis a catalyst for institutional development? Asian Survey, 51(2), 245-267.
  • Narine, S. (2015). ASEAN in the twenty-first century: a sceptical review. In Ooi Kee Beng and others (Eds.), The 3rd ASEAN Reader (pp. 172-175). Singapore: ISEAS.
  • Narine, S. (2018). The new ASEAN in Asia-Pacific & beyond. Boulder and London: Lynne Rienner Publishers.
  • Natalegawa, M. (2018). Does ASEAN matter? a view from within. Singapore: ISEAS.
  • Pelkmans, J. (2019). Understanding the ASEAN economic community: pragmatism versus conceptualism. Asia Pacific Business Review, 25(5), 619-636.
  • Pitsuwan, S., & Yoon, K. (2016). Working towards ASEAN unity: an interview with Surin Pitsuwan. Harvard International Review, 37(2), 55-57.
  • Quayle, L. (2013). Southeast Asia and the English School of International Relations: a region theory dialogue. Basingstoke & New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Ravenhill, J. (2008). Fighting irrelevance: an economic community ‘with ASEAN characteristic’. The Pacific Review, 21(4), 469-488.
  • Roberts, C. B. (2012). ASEAN regionalism: cooperation, values and institutionalization. Abingdon: Routledge.
  • Sato, K. (2013). The rise of China’s impact on ASEAN conference diplomacy: a study of conflict in the South China Sea. Journal of Contemporary East Asia Studies, 2(2), 95-110.
  • Seah, D. (2009). The ASEAN charter. The International and Comparative Law Quarterly, 58(1), 197-212.
  • Severino, R. C. (2006). Southeast Asia in search of an ASEAN community: insights from the former ASEAN secretary-general. Singapore: ISEAS.
  • So, S. (2015). The Cambodia-Thailand conflict: a test for ASEAN. In Ooi Kee Beng and others (Eds.), The 3rd ASEAN Reader (pp. 169-171). Singapore: ISEAS.
  • Soesastro, H. (2015). Implementing the ASEAN economic community blueprint. In Ooi Kee Beng and others (Eds.), The 3rd ASEAN Reader (pp. 217-220). Singapore: ISEAS.
  • Storey, I. (2015). South China Sea: glacial progress amid on-going tensions. In Ooi Kee Beng and others (Eds.), The 3rd ASEAN Reader (pp. 317-320). Singapore: ISEAS.
  • Straits Times (13.11.1997).
  • Straits Times (21.04.1998).
  • Straits Times (21.07.2003).
  • Straits Times (05.12.2005).
  • Straits Times (08.05.2014).
  • Straits Times (02.01.2016).
  • Sukma, R. (2015). ASEAN beyond 2015: the imperatives for further institutional changes. In Ooi Kee Beng and others (Eds.), The 3rd ASEAN Reader (pp. 413-417). Singapore: ISEAS.
  • Thuzar, M. (2015). Thinking and feeling ASEAN: the challenges of integration and identity. In Ooi Kee Beng and others (Eds.), The 3rd ASEAN Reader (pp. 198-202). Singapore: ISEAS.
  • Varkkey, H. (2014). Regional cooperation, patronage and the ASEAN agreement on transboundary haze pollution. International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, 14(1), 65-81.
  • Yates, R. (2019). Understanding ASEAN’s role in Asia-Pacific order. Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Yean, T. S., & Das, S. B. (2015). The ASEAN economic community and conflicting domestic interests: an overview. Journal of Southeast Asian Economies, 32(2), 189-201.
  • Yukawa, T. (2018). The ASEAN way as a symbol: an analysis of discourses on the ASEAN norms. The Pacific Review, 31(3), 298-314.

21. Yüzyılda ASEAN Bölgeselleşmesi: Topluluk İnşa Sürecinin Bir İncelemesi (2003-2015)

Year 2023, Volume: 12 Issue: 2, 759 - 774, 27.04.2023
https://doi.org/10.33206/mjss.1249084

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı, Güneydoğu Asya Uluslar Birliği’nin (ASEAN) siyasi-güvenlik ve ekonomi alanlarında topluluk oluşturma hedefi benimsemesine yol açan temel motivasyonları, topluluk hedefinin içeriğini ve pratikteki genel durumu analiz etmektir. ASEAN’ın topluluk hedefini benimsemesine neden olan dinamikler, 1990’larda ASEAN’ın bölgesel sorunlar karşısında zayıf kalması ve üye devletlerin ASEAN iş birliğinin daha kapsamlı olması yönündeki iradeleri olmuştur. Politik-güvenlik ve ekonomik topluluk hedefleriyle ASEAN; bölgesel güvenliğin sağlanmasını, geleneksel olmayan güvenlik tehditleriyle mücadeleyi, üye ülkeler arasındaki ekonomik gelişmişlik açığının giderilmesini ve ekonomik liberalleşmenin sağlanmasını hedeflemiştir. Topluluk hedefiyle ASEAN, bölgesel sorunlar karşısında ortak bir duruş geliştirme ve iş birliği alanlarını çeşitlendirme konusunda önemli bir irade ortaya koymuştur. Ancak uygulamada, siyasi-güvenlik alanında ASEAN, Güney Çin Denizi ve Preah Vihear şeklindeki anlaşmazlıklarda etkisiz kalmış ve geleneksel olmayan güvenlik tehditleriyle mücadelede kapsamlı bir ilerleme sağlayamamıştır. Diğer yandan ekonomi başlığında ASEAN; ekonomik büyüme, tarifelerin düşürülmesi ve ASEAN-6 ile Vietnam, Laos, Kamboçya ve Myanmar (VLKM) arasındaki ekonomik gelişmişlik farkının azalması konusunda olumlu çıktılar elde etmiştir. Bu noktadan hareketle çalışma, her iki iş birliği alanında da sorunlar olmakla birlikte, topluluk inşa sürecinde, ASEAN bölgeselleşmesinde ekonomik iş birliğinin siyasi alana kıyasla görece daha başarılı hâle geldiği sonucuna ulaşmıştır.

References

  • ASEAN-AADMER Work Programme. (2010). Retrieved from: https://cil.nus.edu.sg/databasecil/2010-2015-asean-agreement-on-disaster-management-and-emergency-response-work-programme/.
  • ASEAN. (2016a). Retrieved from: https://asean.org/storage/2012/05/ASEAN-Statistic-Yearbook-2015_r.pdf.
  • The ASEAN Secretariat. (2016b). ASEAN statistical yearbook 2015. Retrieved from: https://www.aseanstats.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ASEAN-Statistical-Yearbook-2015_small_size.pdf.
  • ASEAN. (2017a). Retrieved from: https://asean.org/storage/2012/05/ASEAN_MDG_2017.pdf.
  • The ASEAN Secretariat. (2017b). ASEAN statistical report on millennium development goals 2017. Retrieved from: http://www.aseanstats.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/ASEAN_MDG_2017.pdf.
  • ASEAN. (2018a). Retrieved from: https://www.aseanstats.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/ASEAN-Key-Figures-2018.pdf.
  • The ASEAN Secretariat. (2018b). ASEAN key figures 2018. Retrieved from: https://www.aseanstats.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/ASEAN-Key-Figures-2018.pdf.
  • Aggarwal, Vinod K., & Chow, Jonathan T. (2010). The perils of consensus: how ASEAN’s meta-regime undermines economic and environmental cooperation, Review of International Political Economy, 17(2), 262-290.
  • Allison, L., & Taylor, M. (2017). ASEAN’s ‘people-oriented’ aspirations: civil society influences on non-traditional security governance. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 71(1), 24-41.
  • ASCC Plan of Action. (2012). Retrieved from: https://asean.org/?static_post=the-asean-socio-cultural-communityascc-plan-of-action.
  • AEC Blueprint. (2008). ASEAN economic community blueprint. Retrieved from: https://asean.org/wpcontent/uploads/archive/5187-10.pdf.
  • APSC Blueprint. (2009). ASEAN political-security community blueprint. Retrieved from: https://asean.org/wpcontent/uploads/images/archive/5187-18.pdf.
  • ASCC Blueprint. (2009). ASEAN socio-cultural community blueprint. Retrieved from: https://asean.org/wpcontent/uploads/archive/5187-19.pdf.
  • Azis, I. J. (2018). ASEAN economic integration: quo vadis? Journal of Southeast Asian Economies, 35(1): 2-12.
  • Caballero-Anthony, M. (2014). Understanding ASEAN’s centrality: bases and prospects in an evolving regional architecture. The Pacific Review, 27(4), 563-584.
  • Caouettea D. & Côté D. B. (2011). Ripe for a new Asian multilateralism? ASEAN and contemporary regional dynamics. European Journal of East Asian Studies, 10(1), 5-36.
  • Chen, L., & Lombaerde, P. D. (2019). ASEAN between globalization and regionalization. Asia Pacific Business Review, 25(5), 729-750.
  • Collins, A. (2008). A people-oriented ASEAN: a door ajar or closed for civil society organizations? Contemporary Southeast Asia, 30(2), 313-331.
  • Cuyvers, L. (2019). The ‘ASEAN way’ and ASEAN’s development gap with Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam: a critical view. Asia Pacific Business Review, 25(5), 683-704.
  • Cuyvers, L., Chen, L., Lombaerde P. D. (2019). 50 years of regional integration in ASEAN. Asia Pacific Business Review, 25(5), 609-618.
  • Emmers, R. (2018). Unpacking ASEAN neutrality: The quest for autonomy and impartiality in Southeast Asia. Contemporary Southeast Asia, 40(3), 349-370.
  • Hassan, M. J. (2015). Trust-building in Southeast Asia: what made it possible? In Ooi Kee Beng and others (Eds.), The 3rd ASEAN Reader (pp. 313-316). Singapore: ISEAS.
  • Hew, D. (2015). Towards an ASEAN economic community by 2015. In Ooi Kee Beng and others (Eds.), The 3rd ASEAN Reader (pp. 221-225). Singapore: ISEAS.
  • Jakarta Post (08.08.2003).
  • Jakarta Post (07.04.2010).
  • Jakarta Post (08.08.2012).
  • Jakarta Post (07.02.2013).
  • Idris, A., & Kamaruddin, N. (2019). Challenges and opportunities; lessons for ASEAN post 50. Idris Aida & Nurliana Kamaruddin (Eds.), ASEAN Post-50: Emerging Issues and Challenges (pp. 239-247). Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Lim, M. (2015). Civil society and the ASEAN community. In Ooi Kee Beng and others (Eds.), The 3rd ASEAN Reader (pp. 278-283). Singapore: ISEAS.
  • Mahbubani, K., & Sng, J. (2017). The ASEAN miracle: a catalyst for peace. Singapore: Ridge Books.
  • Martel, S. (2017). From ambiguity to contestation: discourse(s) of non-traditional security in the ASEAN community. The Pacific Review, 30(4), 549-565.
  • McGillivray, M., Feeny, S., & Iamsiraroj S. (2015). Understanding the ASEAN development gap. In Ooi Kee Beng and others (Eds.), The 3rd ASEAN Reader (pp. 95-98). Singapore: ISEAS.
  • Murray, P. (2020). Managing security: reimagining ASEAN’s regional role. Asian Studies Review, 44(1), 44-60.
  • Nair, D. (2011). ASEAN’s core norms in the context of the global financial crisis: is the crisis a catalyst for institutional development? Asian Survey, 51(2), 245-267.
  • Narine, S. (2015). ASEAN in the twenty-first century: a sceptical review. In Ooi Kee Beng and others (Eds.), The 3rd ASEAN Reader (pp. 172-175). Singapore: ISEAS.
  • Narine, S. (2018). The new ASEAN in Asia-Pacific & beyond. Boulder and London: Lynne Rienner Publishers.
  • Natalegawa, M. (2018). Does ASEAN matter? a view from within. Singapore: ISEAS.
  • Pelkmans, J. (2019). Understanding the ASEAN economic community: pragmatism versus conceptualism. Asia Pacific Business Review, 25(5), 619-636.
  • Pitsuwan, S., & Yoon, K. (2016). Working towards ASEAN unity: an interview with Surin Pitsuwan. Harvard International Review, 37(2), 55-57.
  • Quayle, L. (2013). Southeast Asia and the English School of International Relations: a region theory dialogue. Basingstoke & New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Ravenhill, J. (2008). Fighting irrelevance: an economic community ‘with ASEAN characteristic’. The Pacific Review, 21(4), 469-488.
  • Roberts, C. B. (2012). ASEAN regionalism: cooperation, values and institutionalization. Abingdon: Routledge.
  • Sato, K. (2013). The rise of China’s impact on ASEAN conference diplomacy: a study of conflict in the South China Sea. Journal of Contemporary East Asia Studies, 2(2), 95-110.
  • Seah, D. (2009). The ASEAN charter. The International and Comparative Law Quarterly, 58(1), 197-212.
  • Severino, R. C. (2006). Southeast Asia in search of an ASEAN community: insights from the former ASEAN secretary-general. Singapore: ISEAS.
  • So, S. (2015). The Cambodia-Thailand conflict: a test for ASEAN. In Ooi Kee Beng and others (Eds.), The 3rd ASEAN Reader (pp. 169-171). Singapore: ISEAS.
  • Soesastro, H. (2015). Implementing the ASEAN economic community blueprint. In Ooi Kee Beng and others (Eds.), The 3rd ASEAN Reader (pp. 217-220). Singapore: ISEAS.
  • Storey, I. (2015). South China Sea: glacial progress amid on-going tensions. In Ooi Kee Beng and others (Eds.), The 3rd ASEAN Reader (pp. 317-320). Singapore: ISEAS.
  • Straits Times (13.11.1997).
  • Straits Times (21.04.1998).
  • Straits Times (21.07.2003).
  • Straits Times (05.12.2005).
  • Straits Times (08.05.2014).
  • Straits Times (02.01.2016).
  • Sukma, R. (2015). ASEAN beyond 2015: the imperatives for further institutional changes. In Ooi Kee Beng and others (Eds.), The 3rd ASEAN Reader (pp. 413-417). Singapore: ISEAS.
  • Thuzar, M. (2015). Thinking and feeling ASEAN: the challenges of integration and identity. In Ooi Kee Beng and others (Eds.), The 3rd ASEAN Reader (pp. 198-202). Singapore: ISEAS.
  • Varkkey, H. (2014). Regional cooperation, patronage and the ASEAN agreement on transboundary haze pollution. International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, 14(1), 65-81.
  • Yates, R. (2019). Understanding ASEAN’s role in Asia-Pacific order. Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Yean, T. S., & Das, S. B. (2015). The ASEAN economic community and conflicting domestic interests: an overview. Journal of Southeast Asian Economies, 32(2), 189-201.
  • Yukawa, T. (2018). The ASEAN way as a symbol: an analysis of discourses on the ASEAN norms. The Pacific Review, 31(3), 298-314.
There are 60 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Ferhat Durmaz 0000-0002-1315-7686

Publication Date April 27, 2023
Submission Date February 9, 2023
Published in Issue Year 2023 Volume: 12 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Durmaz, F. (2023). ASEAN Regionalism in the 21st Century: A Review of the Community-Building Process (2003-2015). MANAS Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi, 12(2), 759-774. https://doi.org/10.33206/mjss.1249084
AMA Durmaz F. ASEAN Regionalism in the 21st Century: A Review of the Community-Building Process (2003-2015). MJSS. April 2023;12(2):759-774. doi:10.33206/mjss.1249084
Chicago Durmaz, Ferhat. “ASEAN Regionalism in the 21st Century: A Review of the Community-Building Process (2003-2015)”. MANAS Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi 12, no. 2 (April 2023): 759-74. https://doi.org/10.33206/mjss.1249084.
EndNote Durmaz F (April 1, 2023) ASEAN Regionalism in the 21st Century: A Review of the Community-Building Process (2003-2015). MANAS Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi 12 2 759–774.
IEEE F. Durmaz, “ASEAN Regionalism in the 21st Century: A Review of the Community-Building Process (2003-2015)”, MJSS, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 759–774, 2023, doi: 10.33206/mjss.1249084.
ISNAD Durmaz, Ferhat. “ASEAN Regionalism in the 21st Century: A Review of the Community-Building Process (2003-2015)”. MANAS Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi 12/2 (April 2023), 759-774. https://doi.org/10.33206/mjss.1249084.
JAMA Durmaz F. ASEAN Regionalism in the 21st Century: A Review of the Community-Building Process (2003-2015). MJSS. 2023;12:759–774.
MLA Durmaz, Ferhat. “ASEAN Regionalism in the 21st Century: A Review of the Community-Building Process (2003-2015)”. MANAS Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi, vol. 12, no. 2, 2023, pp. 759-74, doi:10.33206/mjss.1249084.
Vancouver Durmaz F. ASEAN Regionalism in the 21st Century: A Review of the Community-Building Process (2003-2015). MJSS. 2023;12(2):759-74.

MANAS Journal of Social Studies