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Prepared by:
Mohammad Shahadad Hossain
Shimul Reja
Nazmul Hasan
Asadullah Al Galib
Anurug Chakma
6th semester
Dept. of Peace and Conflict Studies
University of Dhaka
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN)
.
However, after its foundation on 8th August 1967, many incidents had made co-
operation harder in international arena. ASEAN overcome those with patience
without sacrificing its core values. It maintained a constant code of conduct with
the super power USA in the time of Cold War. ASEANs security relationship with
the West is unlikely to change as long as the organization is made up of
fundamentally pro-Western governments, hostile toward communism (Buszynski
1987). And of the other hand it got comparatively more congenial policy setting in
favor. ASEAN was indeed a special arena of US policy: a grouping of Third world
states which through its generally pro Western development policy could
distinguish from unstable, radical areas of the Third World where nationalism is
often anti-American in character (Buszynski 1987).
This is one side story. the another side is emerging influence of China in global
economy and poor public orientation in ASEAN regional forum may characterized
as a criticism of its achievements through last four decades. With the changes of
the world politics and economy through several shocking incidents like Afghan
and Iraq war and global economic recession in early 21st century, ASEAN is also
concerned for their position on future. Though the former Secretary General of
ASEAN Ong Keng Young stated, If you are wondering about the future of
ASEAN, worrying about how ASEAN will be hurt by the ongoing war on Iraq ,
let me assure you that the future of ASEAN is still bright (Young: 2003).
Beside the factors of war or economic crisis ASEAN is facing many challenges
from different sides. ASEAN is criticized for its poor record of democracy, human
rights and fundamental freedom, economic reservation, poor human security status
and maintenance of environmental well-being. These are the factors what will play
the key role in determining the future of ASEAN with inevitable action and
reaction of international politics.
The political stability of Malay was then threatened by the militancy of the
communist. In the federation Malay, the communist carried out insurgent activities
purportedly to free the countries from the British rule. Singapore was also in
danger of being taken over by a communist backed faction of the ruling party. A
series of leftist inspired strikes and a wave of student demonstrations rocked the
Singapore economy in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The fear instilled by a
communist control Singapore contributed to the proposition of forming an alliance
comprising Brunei, the federation of Malay, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore.
However, an important minority of people was against the alliance. Some
minorities were uneasy over the political dominance of the Malays in the new
federation. In 1962, referendums conducted by the commission of Sabah, Sarawak
and Singapore showed that a majority of people were in favors of joining the new
federation of Malaysia. Brunei, on the other hand, had rejected the idea of joining
the federation, as the country would lose control of its vast oil reserves after
joining the new federation. Thus, in 1963, the federation of Malaysia, which
consisted of only Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak and the federation of Malaya, was
formed.
The formation of the federation of Malaysia was not viewed positively by some
surrounding countries. In 1963, President Sukarno ordered the Indonesian
paratroops to instigate a military attack on Malaysia and to initiate acts of sabotage
in Singapore. His intention was to direct attention away from the severe internal
discount arose due to Sukarno’s mismanagement of the economy and the
implementation of guided democracy. However, Sukarno’s pretext was that the
new federation of Malaysia was a neo colonial plot to surround the republic of
Indonesia. The confrontation ceased in 1965, after an abortive coup the subsequent
reaching of an agreement between Malaysia and Indonesia under the new
Indonesians president. The Philippines also refused to recognize the new
federation, because of its dispute with Malaysia over the claim of Sabah.
Shortly after forming the federation of Malaysia, the ruling party in Singapore
began to expand its activities into peninsular Malaysia. The leaders were
aggressively pushing for the concept of a Malaysian Malaysia,. Under this
concept, national interests would precede communal interests. This greatly
alarmed the Malay dominated ruling party in Malaysia (united Malay national
organization, UMNO) and it retaliated with similar activities amongst the Malays
in Singapore. Atmosphere in the two countries was tense and explosion of massive
racial riots seemed imminent. It was under these circumstances that Singapore was
asked to leave the federation of Malaysia in 1965.
All these development led to the formation of ASEAN. Although all the countries
in Southeast Asia were invited to join the organization, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos,
Myanmar and Vietnam declined. In 1984, Brunei joined ASEAN as its sixth
member. This was followed by Vietnam in 1995, and Myanmar and Laos in 1997.
Cambodia was not admitted until 1999 because of unresolved internal political
issues. There are ten current members of ASEAN. (Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and
Cambodia)
Observing status:
• In 1976, the Melanesian state of Papua New Guinea was accorded observer
status. Throughout the 1970s, the organization embarked on a program of
economic cooperation, following the Bali Summit of 1976. This floundered
in the mid-1980s and was only revived around 1991 due to a Thai proposal
for a regional free trade area. The bloc then grew when Brunei Darussalam
became the sixth member after it joined on 8 January 1984, barely a week
after the country became independent on 1 January.(www.wikipedia.com)
Main impetus:
Although, the main impetus for the formation of ASEAN was political in nature,
economic cooperation was also high on the agenda of the organization. The fall of
the Berlin wall in 1980 marked the end of the cold war. This dramatic change in
political environment rendered one of the two major reasons for forming ASEAN
insignificant. ASEAN has since evolved into a more economic oriented
organization. When ASEAN was established in 1967, intra regional trade was a
mere 12% to 15%. In 1997, the amount of intra regional trade increased to 21%.
Example of earlier economic co operation included the ASEAN industrial project
(AIP) scheme and ASEAN industrial complementation (AIC) scheme. Under the
AIP scheme, each member country was allocated an industrial project. Indonesia
and Malaysia were each to have urea plant; phosphate fertilizer was to go to the
Philippines, soda ash to Thailand and diesel engine to Singapore. The ACI scheme
was launch in 1981. The first project under the scheme was the production of the
ASEAN car. However, this erlier project disappointment, prospect for the more
recent projects looks more promising.
ASEAN Formation:
• 1967 ASEAN was founded. Founding members: Indonesia, Malaysia,
Philippines, Thailand,
and Singapore. Important document: Bangkok Declaration.
• 1976 ASEAN Secretariat was established. Spelled program of action to
include political, economic, social, cultural, information, security. Treaty of
Amity and Cooperation (TAC) was signed.
• 1984 Brunei Darussalam joined ASEAN
• 1995 Vietnam joined
• 1997 Laos and Myanmar joined
• 1999 Cambodia. All Southeast Asian countries are now ASEAN members
Industry
Social Development
Trade: ASEAN has been slow to make progress in the areas of economic,
technical, and social cooperation. High level official dialogue has helped foster a
sense of common economic purpose and mutual interest in the so-called ‘ASEAN
spirit’. The important initiatives and policies taken by the South-East Asian
Nations to promote trade are as followings;
• Among other ultimate goals of ASEAN, the idea of a limited FTA and
Custom union was firstly mooted during the ASEAN ministers meeting
(AMM) in Manila in1971. But the lack of direct involvement of ASEAN
ministers restrained the impact of efforts for closer economic cooperation.
• In 1991, the idea of AFTA (ASEAN Free Trade Agreement) was revived
by Thailand’s then PM Anand Panyarachun. This proposal gained
enthusiastic support at the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting Kuala
Lumpur in 1991.
• In October, 1991, ASEAN trade ministers agreed to modify the CEPT. The
new AFTA programmes scheduled to begin tariff reduction from January 1,
1994.
Meanwhile, ASEAN has taken many initiatives to promote trade in the region.
Therefore, it has to be recognized that AFTA has made some progress.
ASEAN countries have reduced the disparities of tariff structure, facilitating
further regional integration efforts. It is expected that AFTA will enable
ASEAN countries to develop trade patterns on the basis of intra-industry
specialization and to make ASEAN more attractive for foreign investment.
It is argued that ASEAN can proceed in two possible directions on the future.
1. To establish a common market to be known as the ASEAN Economic
Community (AEC)
Industry: the South East Asian nations have little to export in a subsistence
economy. The industries of the region are meager. Most of them have been
established by the West during colonialism which is basically located close to the
coasts, markets and transportation. Many different plans and programmes to
increase industrial production have been taken in different times by the
governments of the region. But progress in the field of industrial sector has been
slow because of some reasons;
Shortage of capital
• The ASEAN industrial joint venture (1983) initiates projects with at least
40% participation by private companies from two or more ASEAN member
states.
• The ASEAN fund was established in 1988 to provide finance for portfolio
investments in ASEAN countries, especially for small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs).
Sharing of technology
Aquaculture development
ASEAN Task Force: The ASEAN Task Force was set up to harmonize regulations
on agricultural products derived from biotechnology by 2000.
Finance, Banking and Investment: The initiatives taken by heads of
governments in this field to support intra-ASEAN trade and investment are as
followings;
a) ASEAN Reinsurance Corporation: The ASEAN Reinsurance Corporation
came into manifestation as an initiative in the year of1988 with initial
authorized capital of US $ 10 million.
b) ASEAN Investment Area (AIA): The establishment of an ASEAN
Investment Area was proposed at the summit meeting of December, 1995.
Minerals and Energy: Minerals and energy is another area of economic aspect
of ASEAN. It is recognized widely that the significance of energy and power
development can sustain the overall growth of the region’s economies.
Recognizing the importance of minerals and energy, the heads of governments
have taken many initiatives provided below in different times.
ASEAN electricity grid
The success of the ASEAN is recognized not only by the factors to increasing
economic integration and political and security cooperation among the member
states but also to the factors that make ASEAN as a unique association. There is
lots of diversity among the member countries in cultural, social, political,
language, religion, geographical and economic sectors. However by the pleasant
combination of national priorities and the Association’s interests, and a dynamic,
wise and flexible approach that enables ASEAN to optimize its geo-political
regional strength.
Political factors:
1. Stable Political condition:
One of the most important factors is that ASEAN has a safe and sound regional
environment. Since its founding in 1967, there has been no major armed conflict
or confrontation between any ASEAN members. Indeed, one of ASEAN's most
important achievements is that it changed Southeast Asia from a region of conflict
or violence and poverty to a region of development, peace and security. Once it
was the fearful region of conflict and violence now after the establishment of
ASEAN Through political dialogue and confidence building, no tension has
escalated into armed confrontation among ASEAN member countries.
Second factor is that to deal with the collective security concept for the region it
creates ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in 1994. It deals with an uncertain
security situation in the post-Cold War era by creating a setting or framework
within which confidence building between countries of the region can begin.
Third one is that the member states of the ASEAN are somehow politically stable.
There people enjoy more democracy than the other part of Asia and Africa. That
helps the leaders of this region to achieve the goal and success of ASEAN.
2. Strong leadership:
The second most important factor is that ASEAN leadership. IT has contributed to
ASEAN's success is that the leaders of Southeast Asia focused their energies
sharply on economic growth and development not for their own interest. Though
there is a variety of political systems in Southeast Asia but all the ASEAN
countries are united by their common emphasis on economic growth and
cooperation, not confrontation and conflict. ASEAN leaders realize that ASEAN is
not only good for the region but also for the development of their own national
economies, which lead ASEAN as a successful organization.
3. Relationship with external powers:
To mitigate the threat Of China and Japan or from other neighbor state it is
needed to integrate with the USA. Here interesting factor is that each of the
member states of ASEAN has individual relation with USA, which helps for
further integration. USA has its own interest that’s why US must remain
engaged in the region to protect not only its economic but also its vital strategic
interests in Asia.
C) ASEAN and other powers relation:
Another factor is that accounted for ASEAN's success is its efforts in engaging
and networking with the major powers who have traditionally played an
important role in Southeast Asia. It did so by a series of innovative forums
such as ARF, APEC and ASEM and the ASEAN dialogue processes. The
ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting may confer on an external party the formal
status of Dialogue Partner, Scrotal Dialogue Partner, Development Partner,
Special Observer, Guest, or other status. ASEAN's dialogue relationships with
other countries started in the 1970s and have now expanded to include the US,
Russia, China, Japan, the EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and others.
(www.aseansec.org)
1. Political development
4. Conflict resolution
1. Political development:
One of the main objective of the ASEAN security as envisaged in the Bali,
Conference is to bring ASEAN’s political and security co operation to a higher
plan. In working towards these objectives, ASEAN member’s countries shall
promote political development in support of ASEAN leaders’ shared vision. This
is the highest political commitment that would serve as the basis for ASEAN
political cooperation. They also committed to establish a conducive political
environment which will ensure continued peace, security and stability in the
region here member’s countries intra-regional difference and disputes.
3. Conflict prevention:
Based on the principles contained in the TAC, which is the key code of
conduct governing relations between states and diplomatic instrument fir the
promotion of peace, security and stability in the region, the objective of conflict
prevention shall be:
To strengthen confidence and trust within the community
4. Conflict resolution:
It is essential that any disputes and conflicts involving ASEAN member
countries be resolved in a peaceful way and in the spirit of promoting peace,
security and stability in the region. While continuing to use national, bilateral, and
international mechanisms, ASEAN member countries shall endeavour to use the
existing regional dispute settlement mechanisms, and processes in the political and
security areas and work towards innovative modalities.
Defense dialogue and cooperation in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) was
elevated with the convening of the 1st ARF security policy conference (ASPC) in
November 2004 in Beijing. The ASPC recommended exploring and developing
ways and means of bilateral and multilateral cooperation on various areas. These
included:
Intelligence and information sharing
Capacity building
Training programmers
The sharing of experiences on the legal aspects of the role of the armed
forces in dealing with non-traditional security threats.
Illicit drugs
Piracy
Cyber crime.
3. Maritime security:
The ARF workshop on Maritime security in September 2004 in
Kualalampur was important in forging a general consensus among ARF
participants on the reality of threats to maritime security. ARF participants
also agreed on the need to take collective efforts to address maritime threats
and agreed to share their efforts in such sections:
Fostering information sharing
Friendly consultation
In the mid 1997 a financial crisis swept the region. Crisis affected the economies
of each member state and the other Asian countries. This crisis made people
understand that “miracle age” is over (Tay: 2001). This led the leaders of each
country particularly Mahathir Mohammad of Malaysia to further integration of the
region. ASEAN Plus Three was the first step. But the USA and Japan opposes that
plan. Now the question is how far this will be able to go in such a situation of
balancing and counter balancing in world trade between the USA and China?
Beside this devastating Indonesian forest fire in 1997 and 1998 blanketed the
region with haze pollution. Since the haze pollution is an important environmental
issue. At the turn of the 21st century, issues shifted to involve a more
environmental perspective. Member states signed a treaty ASEAN Agreement on
Trans-boundary Haze Pollution in 2002 to deal with haze pollution. But due to
outbreak of the 2005 Malaysian haze and 2006 Southeast Asian haze this
agreement and organization could not fulfill its agenda (www.wikipedia.com).
ASEAN region is a comparatively peaceful region (Young: 2003). Governments
of member states of ASEAN are known to adopt reserved attitude to the idea of
Pacific Economic Co-operation (PEC) (Soesastro: 1983). In recent time peace and
security of ASEAN region is obscure where there is a country with WMD. North
Korea near the shoulder of the region. Though on 15 December 1995, the
Southeast Asian Nuclear Free Zone Treaty was signed, situation between North
Korea and South Korea might affect in this region.
Another thing is ASEAN countries often been leveled ‘soft authoritarian states’
(Tay: 2001). A long Mahathir Regime in Malaysia about 4 decades, 32 years of
power of president Suharto in Indonesia , Mayanmar Janta rule and recent
Thailand political crisis emerged as new challenges foe further development and
success of ASEAN.
III. Introducing track III diplomacy beside rack I and track II diplomacy to
ensure consensus.
VII. This regional forum shall come forward to stop political exclusion and
marginalization in member countries.
VIII. Countries can ensure freedom of media so that thay can criticize ASEAN ,
this will help it to modify its role
Conclusion:
Regional forum like ASEAN, SAARC etc. are facing enormous challenges due to
emergence of regional superpowers and inevitable clash between or among big
powers. However, ASEAN, members maintained their response for non-
interference and territorial status quo for a long period. But it hardly can deter
clash of exclusive national interest of small or big powers.
References :
• The EUROPA WORLD YEAR BOOK, 2000, vol.1 EUROPA Publications
Ltd.
• WARSHAW, Steven, 1975, “Southeast Asia Emerges”, Diablo Press/
Canfield Publications.
• Wong, John and Chan Sarah, “ China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement”,
Asian Survey, vol.43, No.3 May/June, 2003.
• Daquila, Teofilo C. and Huy,Le Huu, “ Singapore and ASEAN in the
Global Economy”, Asian Survey, vol.43, No.6, Nov./Decem., 2003.
• Palmer and Perkin, “ International Relations”, A.I.T.B.S. Publishers and
Distributors, J-5/6, Krishan Nagar, Delhi-110 05.
• Soesastro, Hadi; 1983, Asean and the Political Economy of Pacific
Cooperation, Asian Survey, Vol. 23, No. 12, pp. 1255.
• Buszynski, Leszek, 1957, ASEAN A Changing Regional Role, Asian
Survey, Vol. 27, No. 07, PP- 535.
• Tay, Simon, 2001, The Future of ASEAN: An Assessment of Democracy,
Economies and Institution in Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia, Winter 2001.
• Wanandi, Jusuf, 2006, ASEAN Future Challenges and the Importance of
An ASEAN Charter, Asien 100, July, pp- 85-87.
• www.wikipedia.com
• www.asean .org