MD. Shakhawoat Hossain
Department of Peace and Conflict Studies
University of Dhaka
Abstract:
The
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is considered as a most
successful intergovernmental regional organization in the world after the
European Union (EU). It’s contributed a lot for establishing regional
stability, durable peace and security in Southeast Asia by taking effective
approaches to solve problematic issues among its members state and helped to
create a long term peaceful interaction among them. Moreover, through its
evolution ASEAN member States always maintained a good cooperative relationship
with one another and show full respect of sovereignty and keep remain
non-interference internal affairs of others
and willing to make efforts to achieve highly integrated economic
development. These types’ issues and
strategies helped ASEAN to become a regional power in Southeast Asia.
Introduction:
The
association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) was founded by Indonesia,
Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand with the AEEAN declaration (also
called Bangkok declaration) in 1967. The main aim is to establish this
intergovernmental regional organization is to promotes mutual understanding and
friendly relationships among the states of the region and to create a regional
stability by enhancing peace and security through abiding respect for justice
and rule of law in the relationships among countries of the region by showing
clear obligation to principles of the UN Charter. However, it is really true
that the establishing of ASEAN gives its members of stated not only set a clear
vision for making a peaceful an stable community but also enhanced its capacity
to respond effectively to challenges and make enough opportunity for ensuring
sustainable economic development. On the other hand, as an intergovernmental
institution, The ASEAN is also considered as successful organization to
establish and preserving peace in Southeast Asia and always played significant
role in post conflict reconstruction issues among its members. In this writing
I would like to introduce about the ASEAN and
its approach to conflict resolution and peace building, security and
development.
ASEAN:
According
to the ASEAN declaration 1967 the
Association of South-east Asian Nations was established is “ To promote
regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule
of law in the relationship among countries of the region and adherence to the
principles of the United Nations Charter.”
According
to the Prof. Clara PORTELA, Singapore Management University, Singapore “The
ASEAN is an international organization which consistently maintained its
attachment to the full of respect of national sovereignty and the principle of non –interference in internal affairs
and translates into consensual decision-making, non legally binding agreements
and the lack of sanctions for non-compliance. A major breakthrough
in terms of institutionalization came about with the signing of the ASEAN
charter in 2007”.
Cause of establishing ASEAN:
The
main reason for establishing ASEAN was Indonesia’s policy of “Konfrontasi” with
Malaysia and its rejection of Malaysian’s claim to independent statehood. So
the establishment of ASEAN helped Malaysia to gain independence from Indonesia
and motivated the other countries of the region to conduct friendly
relationships, resolve their disputes peacefully and to refrains from
interfering in each the internal affairs.
The process of Institutionalization:
The
process of institutionalization of ASEAN has been gradual, slow and remains
limited. It followed some steps to make ASEAN as formal institution which are
given below-
1. First step; the Treaty of Amity
and co-operation (TAC): The first steps towards
institutionalization of ASEAN were undertaken in 1976, when the Treaty of Amity
and co-operation (TAC) was signed. This legally binding document enshrined
ASEAN member’s attachment for national sovereignty and established the
principle of non-intervention.
2. Second Step; Formatting the Secretariat:
After signing the TAC a Secrateriat was founded in
Jakarta to support ASEAN’s activities.
3. Third Step; Expansion of memberships:
In the third steps ASEAN expanded its memberships, first admitting the Brunei
(1985), and following the end of cold war Vietnam (1995), Mayanmar and Laos
(1997) and Cambodia (1999).
4. Forth Step; Signing of the ASEAN Charter:
The main breakthrough in terms o institutionalization came about with the
signing of the ASEAN charter in 2007 which entered into forced in 2009.
5. Fifth Step; Establishing the
ASEAN summit: The establishing of ASEAN summit
comprising head of state and gobernment as the supreme decion making body and
streanthns the power of the ASEaN secretary General, including monitoring
member states, compliance with ASEAN decisions.
6. Final Step; Creation of three
distinct communities: For developing its economy and
establishing co-operative relationships ASEAN’s created three distinct
communities which govern by different council. These three communities as
follows-The politico-security community, the socio-cultural community, the
economic community.
Institutional structure of the
ASEAN:
The
institutional structure of ASEAN is given below-
1.
The
ASEAN mainly composed based on the political decision:
The Basis of the ASEAN is built only by political decision, because the
creation of this organization was not a legally binding treaty but only a two
page political declaration.
2.
The
original documents of institutional structure are really small:
The original documents of institutional structure of ASEAN is really small and
thin which established by an anoul meeting of foreign ministers, a standing
committee composed of ambassadors of the other member countries and committees
on specific subjects.
3.
No Central secretariat for rejection of
formalization and institutionalization: In ASEAN no
central secretariat are seen for rejection of any formalization and
institutionalization. Instead, national secretariat established to service the
formation of the organization. For example, due to the absence of general
secretariats, files had to be shipped from one ASEAN member to another every
year depending on who was holding the championships which rotates in
alphabetical order.
4.
The
decision making procedure is strictly intergovernmental:
The decision making procedure in ASEAN is strictly intergovernmental based on
consensus and consultation which know as the "ASEAN way".
5.
No
mechanisms for enforcement or sanctions: In ASEAN
there is no mechanism were seen for enforcement or sanctions in the event of
non-compliance. The "ASEAN way" always emphasis informal diplomacy
and restraint of public criticism on policies of other member States. When
member States are unable to reach agreement, decisions are simply defferred.
Aim of establishing ASEAN:
The
Association of South-east Asian Nations was established based on the some
specific aim which make remarkable contribution to create stability of this
regional organizaton and will be helpful to maintain good friendly and
cooperative relationships with one another. Some of the important aim of ASEAN
is given below -
1.
Protecting
common interest: The first aim of ASEAN is to
protect their common interest. The member states of ASEAN's States announced
the readiness to promote collaboration on matters of common interest in a
variety of fields. Such as economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific
and administrative with the aim of accelerating economic growth, social
progress and cultural development in the region.
2.
Creating friendly relationship between the
members of States: The important aim to create
ASEAN is to promote mutual understanding and friendly relationship among the
member States of the region and make enough efforts to settle any kinds of
disputes peacefully.
3.
Protecting
market economy system: The most remarkable purpose of
creating ASEAN is to protect market economy system, because their main goal to
establish strong economic situation for ensuring sustainable economic growth by
promoting strong inter-govermental relationship through the free flow of raw
materials, goods and services.
4.
Protecting
Minority people: The ASEAN member States always
very concern about protecting minority people and their culture and identity
and always willing to make enough efforts to protect their basic human rights
and any kinds of discrimination against them.
5.
Respect for each other sovereignty:
The main aim to establish ASEAN is show respect for each other sovereignty and
not interpereing the internal affairs of other States.
ASEAN approaches to conflict
resolution and peace building:
As
an intergovernmental institution ASEAN always played significant role in post
conflict reconstruction and peace building process. For instance in 1978,
Vietnam invaded Cambodia and set up a puppet government. 1997, again in Cambodia, a political crisis occurred when the
then-second prime minister Hun sen removed the first prime minister Norodom
Ranariddh from power. For a number of
years Cambodia and Thailand engaged in a border dispute Ove the Preh Vihear
temple. ASEAN succeeded to resolve these
kinds of disputes peacefully. In the following I would like to introduce some
important initiative of ASEAN about conflict resolution and peace building.
1.
Bali-
Concord 11: The Bali concord 2, signed on 7 October
2003 was the first ASEAN document that indicated that the organization was
searching for a role to play in post conflict situation. Through the concord, the leaders of ASEAN
mandated that they should find “innovative ways to increase its security and
establish modalities for the ASEAN security community including in the area of
post conflict peace building. (ASEAN charter 2003).In the action plan for the
implementation of the Bali Concord 2, and especially its security aspects post
conflict peace building was further defined as " process involving
broad-based inter agency cooperation and coordination across a wide range of
issues. The concord stated that this process should “create the conditions
necessary for a sustainable peace in conflict-torn areas and to prevent the
resurgence of conflict (ASEAN 2004). The action plan also asked members of the
association to assist each other in post conflict peace building efforts. Such
as humanitarian assistance, reconstruction and rehabilitation.
2.
Article
8 of ASEAN charter: There is an indication of ASEAN
charter in article (8) that the charter gives ASEAN a role in post conflict
peace building which mandates the organization to respond effectively in
accordance with the principles of collective security, to all forms of threats,
transnational crimes and transboundary challenges.
3.
ASEAN
Blueprints: In order to transform the commitments
in the charter into accountable agendas, ASEAN adopted blueprint. The ASEAN Political -Security Community
(APSC) Blueprint was the roadmap for ASEAN to achieve its political security
goals from 2010- 2015. In this document, ASEAN makes clear commitments to a
regional role in post conflict situations, and to conflict prevention,
preventive diplomacy and post conflict peace building. (ASEAN 2009).
4.
Establishment
of the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconstruction (AIPR): An
important institutional development that added to ASEAN's efforts in post
conflict reconstruction was the establishment of the ASEAN Institute for Peace
and Reconstruction (AIPR) under section B2.2 of the ASEAN Blueprint, which
mainly focuses on conflict resolution and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
ASEAN approach to security:
For
ensuring security in Southeast Asian ASEAN took several steps which are given
below-
1. To
preserve south East Asia as a nuclear weapon free zone and also free of all
other weapon of mass destruction.
2. To
responds effectively in accordance to the principles of comprehensive security,
to all form of threat, transnational crimes and transbiundary challenges.
(ASEAN
charter, 2008, p 3-4)
3. To
strengthen democracy.
4. Enhance
good governance and rule of law.
5. Protect
human rights and fundamental freedoms, with due regard to the rights and
responsibilities of the member States.
(ASEAN
charter p. 4.)
6. Abstention
in any policy or activity which threatens the sovereignty, territorial
integrity or political and economic stability of ASEAN States.
(ASEAN charter 2008, p.7)
ASEAN approaches to development:
For
ensuring sustainable economic growth and development ASEAN steps are always
admirable. It succeeded to find out actual solutions for attaining strong
economic integrity. Some ASEAN approaches to development are given below -
1.
Create
a production based single market: SEAN States
created a production based single market which makes its economy very
competitive and enhanced connectivity and sectoral cooperation among its
members. We can see in ASEAN charter -ASEAN economy lies with " a single
market and production base...in which there is free flow of goods, services and
investment, facilitated movement of business persons, professionals, talent and
labor, and free flow of capital.
(ASEAN charter, 2008, p.4)
2.
Forming
ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA): Forming ASEAN
Free Trade Area (AFTA) in 1991 was an effective approach to ASEAN economic
development. It contributed a lot for
establishing good cooperative relationships among the ASEAN member states and
provided opportunity for the reduction or elimination of tarifs under a common
effective Preferential Tariff scheme and the removal of quantitative
restrictions and other non tariff measures. It also addressed other
cross-border measures, such as trade facilitation and standard harmonization.
3.
ASEAN
plus 3 arrangements: For broadened cooperation on
macroeconomic and financial issues ASEAN arranged "ASEAN plus3" with
its Northeast Asian neighbours-- China, Japan and South Korea.
4.
Establishment
of ASEAN economic community by 2015: ASEAN has
announced the establishment of an economic community by 2015, consisting of a
single market and production base and characteried by high competition,
equitable economic development and full integration into the global economy.
5.
ASEAN
economic Blueprint: The master plan for ASEAN
economic development guided by establishing the ASEAN economic Blueprint was
adopted in 2007. This project was led by Thailand and especially Singapore
which has mainly insisted about China's economic dynamism threat for Southeast
Asia.
Criticism:
ASEAN
approach also criticized by some scholars. Such as-
1. ASEAN
could not make itself as regional identity instead of creating only diplomatic
relationships among its members which mainly built based on the elite people
concept.
2. ASEAN
member States are competitors with one another, because they produce same types
of products and goods. So sometimes it can be the great cause of creating
negative relationship between strong and weak state.
3. ASEAN
has lack of disputes, implementation and decision making mechanism.
4. ASEAN
way itself an obstacle for building strong regional identity, because it is run
based on the some conservative concept.
5. External
interference of super power. Such as Intra-ASEAN division by influence of China
and its economic dominance in Southeast Asia. US intervention for protecting
ASEAN activities.
Conclusion:
In
conclusion we can say that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
played a significant role of creating regional peace and development in
Southeast Asia. The leaders of the ASEAN always were very concern and show
their creativity and talent for promoting approaches to make up any kinds of
regional challenger and disputes. They also show their keen interests to
conduct friendly relationship whit one another and refrain forms interfering in
each other’s internal conflict or affairs and willing to gain high integrated
economic development. So we thin in near future ASEAN will be angle to become a
regional power in the world and continue its activities for establishing
sustainable development and durable peace.
Reference:
A.
ASEAN
Secretariat (2008), The ASEAN charter, Jakarta.
B.
Explaining
the failure of the ASEAN economic community: The primacy of domestic political
economy by “Lee Jones”.
C.
Lee,
H.L (2007) “Speech at the ASEAN Day lecture” Singapore, 7 August 2007.
D.
“ASEAN:
Integration, Internal Dynamics and External Relations” by Prof. Clara PORTELA,
Singapore Management University, Singapore.
E.
“Constructing
a security community in Southeast Asia” by Amitav Acharya.
