ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community

November 18
ASCC: looks at the quality of lives of people and social integration; focuses on the social aspect
of human life
Example: Land grabbing in the context of indigenous peoples – intertwined with development
(development projects are often responsible for violating land rights of IPs and why they lose
their lands and become victims of land grabbing) – land ownerships for IPs linked to ancestry,
traditions, etc. – land titling is a colonial concept – they don’t practice and titling = they don’t own
it in the eyes of the government

Indigenous People Struggle for their Homeland (Indonesia)

Values , protect their ancestral lives
Due to no recognition and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples
Government policies force them ro tleaese the rights in the absence of laws to protect the IP
rights
Without due process the arrival eof dev projects
= disobedience and rebellion at community level = agrarian conflicts invonolving people and
communiies v govt
Companies do not respect local custom
Destruction of local cultures = cultural genocide
FPIC (free prior and informed consent ) : IPs as legitimate owners of customary lands and
territories
Ecnrouagr themselves to organize themselves; strengtheninc the IP communities
Being part of the decision making process

The Other Cambodia – IP’S Land and Rights (Cambodia)

The people’s natural wealth
Home to n indigenous groups
ELC
Land Titling Projects

 Limitations from responses

ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community
November 27, 2019
I. ASCC Overview
II. ASEAN Aspirations
III. Role of the Socio-Cultural Pillar
IV. Revisiting the ASEAN Way
A. Non-interference and Consensus Decision Making
B. Characteristics of the Region

ASCC: Overview

 Lift the quality of life of people through cooperation

 Cooperation that is: people-oriented and centered, environmentally friendly, promotes
sustainable development
 Human development (not at the expense of people and environment), resiliency, and
sustainable development
 Goals: decline of extreme poverty, expand the middle class, improve health and
education, increase in workforce and infrastructure development
o Indicator of decline in poverty: employment, regular and stable income
o Health and education: Skills building and capacity building, making sure people
are employable
o Infrastructure: Employment opportunities
 Cooperation is through a wide range of areas: (see readings)

ASEAN Aspirations
AEC might be difficult to achieve, especially the “one community” (recall four pillars of AEC).

 Protectionist policies; national economy is priority

Factors:
1. AEC is undermined – policies are arranged in bilateral and multilateral agreements with
other states, which are viewed to be more valuable and of higher quality; single market
attainment gets derailed; frameworks of states are focused on national economies
a. Example: PH participation in the Belt and Road Initiative is more valuable
compared to ASEAN
2. Intra-ASEAN Trade is not fully utilized and does not reach its fullest potential; it is still
small trade proportion from overall trade in the region
3. Change in domestic laws
4. Countries are still each other’s competitors

There is a need to look beyond economic cooperation – building socio-cultural bonds might also
be important in achieving that “one community”.
Role of the Socio-Cultural Pillar

 Social integration is necessary to make the organization stronger.

o Identity = sense of belongingness : “we feeling” , oneness } mindset -> behavior -
> action = culture (acting, thinking feeling) => more accepting of goals and
decisions
 Key Elements of the ASCC:
o Human development
o Welfare
o Rights and justice
o Environmental stability
o Narrowing the development gap
o Building the ASEAN identity
 ASCC Blueprint 2025: participation, inclusiveness, sustainability, resilience and identity
building
o Highlights the contributions of people in the ASEAN

Two Things the ASCC Should Address:

1. Transnational Problems – haze, pollution, etc. -> holding companies or businesses
accountable
a. Rights and justice, human rights
Example: IP rights, land rights/issues (land grabbing/displacement)
2. Spell out/Identify what it wants to be – what is the ASEAN identity
a. Raising awareness through education on: region’s history, affinities, close
cultural ties among members, etc.
b. Building trust and common sense of belonging
c. Source: common links or shared experiences (previously colonies, part of trade
route, etc)
ASEAN – if we aspire for close integration, we need for an accepted ASEAN identity, values,
and principles: one that engages people, not just something that the leaders accept.

Revisiting the ASEAN Way: Non-Interference and Consensus Decision Making

 Roots of the ASEAN Way: way of addressing challenges and cultural roots
o Cooperation, consensus building, informality, avoidance of someone losing face
– extreme: non-interference
o Traditionally was able to solve conflicts – trust building
 Unlike in Western framework: if do not agree with policy or has violation, they are
ostracized, banned travel, no longer partners, etc.
o Myanmar case: was not alienated, ostracized
o Constructive engagement = no condemnation or public statements, etc. but there
were advices/suggestions privately to influence Myanmar’s decision
 Limitation: Slow and unambitious on many issues – not suited for all issues (especially
those that require immediate responses)
  ASCC: focuses on rights, justice, engagement – encourages democratic principles and
participation: to move away from constructive engagement and on to more effective
means through engagement (thanks to ASCC)
 Need: to gain people’s trust that it will help solve their problems

Revisiting the ASEAN Way: Characteristics of the Region

 Environment – resource-rich and prone to natural disasters; importance of the

environment in the “identity” – need to protect it
 Diversity – especially in religion; interfaith dialogues – to create a strong “moderate”
sector to fight “extremism”
 No one is behind or marginalized; ensure that al members are able to achieve the goals
set.

Research issue
Issue (causes and effects)
State and ASEAN Responses
Own Recommendations
10-15 mins
3-5 page write-up