ASEAN and collective security system<\/p>\n
Bantarto Bandoro, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The emergence of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as President raised
\nhigh expectations in the region that he would initiate even
\nstronger measures in the fight against terrorism. Such an
\nexpectation was reportedly expressed openly by Philippine
\nPresident Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, that Susilo would be a strong
\nally in the fight against regional militant groups.<\/p>\n
It is not clear, however, what Arroyo was really up to when
\nshe said that ASEAN should attain collective security. Arroyo's
\nassessment of regional security issues must have gone beyond the
\ncurrent regional security setting, as the region is already
\nmoving toward full integration -- but is, apparently, still far
\nfrom being completely save from the threat of international
\nterrorism. The threat of terrorism needs to be managed through
\ncollective endeavors in the region.<\/p>\n
Whatever criticism can be made against Arroyo's idea of
\ncollective security -- its framework and assumptions on its
\npractical prescription -- Arroyo's vision is positive, if not
\noptimistic. Such a pronouncement suggests a more ambitious vision
\nof what cooperative regional-international activities can
\nachieve, especially through ASEAN.<\/p>\n
The idea of regional collective security is, therefore, worth
\nfurther analysis -- but, it should not be confined only to the
\nmanagement of the threat of terrorism.<\/p>\n
The region will definitely be facing all kinds of regional
\nsecurity issues in the future. There is, therefore, a need for an
\nupdated regional security policy, so that ASEAN can enhance its
\ncapacity to respond collectively, and effectively, to some
\npressing regional security issues.<\/p>\n
It may be worthwhile to subject the foundations of the notion
\nof collective security to closer scrutiny. Collective security is
\nunderstood as the maintenance of international peace. A concept
\nthat has long been linked to a collective attempt by the UN to
\nmaintain international peace. That concept envisages the
\nuniversal renunciation by states of \"resorting to force\", save
\nfor a collective response to a threat to any member of a global
\nsecurity community.<\/p>\n
This principle was supposed to govern the League of Nations,
\nand the UN continues to uphold aspirations for its realization.
\nUnfortunately, as a regulative principle, it is spectacularly
\nlacking in historical success, as seen in the multilateral
\ninvasion of Iraq in 1991. It was more the product of the UN
\nSecurity Council acting as a \"concert of powers\" than the
\nemergence of a genuine, collective security system.<\/p>\n
Threats to regional stability can occur at any time; they can
\nalso stem from any source, either internal or external. If ASEAN
\nwere to adopt collective security in anticipation of future
\nregional security threats, then serious regional discussions
\nwould be vital, so as to make the concept of collective security
\nas specific as possible.<\/p>\n
Collective security is a coalition-building strategy, whereby
\na group of nations agree not to attack one another. Not only
\nthat, the concept also implies the defense of each nation against
\nthe attack of the others, if such an event should occur. But such
\na scenario is very unlikely to happen in the ASEAN context.<\/p>\n
So, why would the concept of collective security be
\nparticularly relevant in the ASEAN context?<\/p>\n
For ASEAN, collective security is a much more effective
\napproach to security than individual member countries trying to
\nact alone.<\/p>\n
An ASEAN collective security system implies that ASEAN members
\ncountries possess the same rights and the same duties. Not only
\nthat, an ASEAN collective security system must be as flexible as
\npossible, meaning that it should pursue the system in a way that
\nsupports the security of each member state, and in accordance
\nwith a code of conduct -- if any -- agreed upon by ASEAN member
\nstates.<\/p>\n
ASEAN has, so far, been practicing \"cooperative security\". But
\ncollective security must not be equated with the concept of
\ncooperative security. In the ASEAN context, a collective security
\nsystem is a system for defining, safeguarding and -- if necessary
\n-- enforcing the law. A cooperative security system, on the
\ncontrary, is restricted to defining, discussing and monitoring.
\nThus, it can be said that an ASEAN collective security system
\nwould begin where cooperative security left off.<\/p>\n
What ASEAN had in mind, when it agreed to develop an ASEAN
\nSecurity Community, was the prevention of undesired activities in
\nthe region. Here, active stability control wards off potential
\nintruders through sanctions, to prevent an intrusion. Thus, an
\nintrusion signifies the failure of the collective security
\nsystem.<\/p>\n
If active security control serves as a preventative mechanism,
\nso does the collective security system, meaning that an ASEAN
\ncollective security system would also serve to prevent future
\nsecurity threats.<\/p>\n
The road to stability, and perpetual peace and concrete
\nprogress in ASEAN, is still a very long way off, despite the
\nacceptance of ASEAN Security Community. If ASEAN can eventually
\narrive at collective security -- as envisioned by Gloria Arroyo
\n-- it would not only illustrate political progress in ASEAN, but
\nalso reflect a much more organized system of ASEAN regional
\nsecurity. Collective security requires multilateralism, and such
\na requirement was already met by ASEAN, when it decided to act
\ncollectively against terrorism and other threats.<\/p>\n
The writer (bandoro@csis.or.id) is editor of The Indonesian
\nQuarterly of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies
\n(CSIS). He is also a lecturer at the International Relations Post
\nGraduate Studies Program, Faculty of Social and Political
\nScience, University of Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>",
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