Deepening the integration of Southeast Asia<\/p>\n
Yayan GH Mulyana, Bogor, West Java<\/p>\n
The 37th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM), which took place in
\nJakarta this week marked a new \"punctuated equilibrium\" in the
\nprocess towards a more integrated Southeast Asia. A new chapter
\nin the evolution of ASEAN began when the AMM agreed to the Plan
\nof Action for the ASEAN Security Community, initially drafted by
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
The process towards the ASEAN community has long been on the
\nway. Yet, during the current Indonesian chairmanship of ASEAN,
\nthe process has been reinvigorated and redirected through the
\ndevelopment of three pillars -- the security, economic, and
\nsocio-cultural communities.<\/p>\n
Thus, an inventive reconstruction has been occurring in the
\narchitecture of international relations in the region. The final
\noutcome of the process could be the emergence of more
\ninterconnected Southeast Asians in a multi-dimensional manner and
\na benevolent regional order.<\/p>\n
There are three important elements that could help shape the
\nongoing construction of the ASEAN community, which hopefully
\ncould materialize by 2020. Those elements include institutional
\nbuilding, norm-setting activities and the formation of a \"we
\nfeeling.\"<\/p>\n
The emerging ASEAN community means an institutional shift
\nwithin the region. Along with this shift, the indistinct societal
\nconfiguration of Southeast Asia will develop toward a more
\norganized community. The institutional shift covers, among other
\nthings, the introduction of new mechanisms and the strengthening
\nof existing mechanisms at both governmental and social levels.
\nInstitutional building should encourage the ramification of
\naccesses and avenues through which inter-societal interaction in
\nthe region develops.<\/p>\n
Institutional building could occur spontaneously in a self-
\nhelp system or through systematic initiatives both from the
\ngovernments (top-down) or the ASEAN populace (bottom-up).<\/p>\n
Successful institutional building will result in a greater
\nlevel of institutionalization not only in ASEAN as an
\norganization but also in the family of Southeast Asian nations as
\na community. This accomplishment will eventually elevate the
\nregionalization process of ASEAN from a soft regionalism to a
\ncohesive one.<\/p>\n
Norms are indispensable element of a community. For the ASEAN
\ncommunity, the promotion of security, economic, and socio-
\ncultural norms is vital. Norm-setting processes could begin with
\ndeclarations on issues.<\/p>\n
This has become the established practice in ASEAN. When
\ncommitment of the ASEAN member states to the process is stronger,
\ngreater steps could be taken towards the development of more
\nbinding instruments, including the development of an ASEAN
\nCharter.<\/p>\n
Norm-setting process in the region could also be directed
\ntowards the creation of the ASEAN way -- the ASEAN version of
\nliving a life, administering statehood, managing intra-regional
\nrelations, and resolving conflicts. This should not become a
\nnarrow-minded and exclusive venture. While embracing
\ninternational norms, the region could develop its individual
\nnormative parameters.<\/p>\n
The ASEAN way should go beyond a mere style of diplomacy among
\nASEAN countries that emphasizes patience, evolution, informality,
\npragmatism, and consensus. It should also penetrate and be
\nembraced by different levels of society in ASEAN. The capacity of
\nevery member of the ASEAN public in developing and internalizing
\nthe ASEAN way will affect the construction and the size of
\nacceptance of such norms.<\/p>\n
The \"we feeling\" is a mental condition that builds a cognitive
\nand affective interconnection among ASEAN nationals. Such a
\nfeeling will not develop if ASEAN emphasizes an elitist approach
\nin its work, or if ASEAN considers that the ASEAN community is
\nthe sole business of governments. It is the responsibility of the
\nASEAN governments to inform their nationals that a process
\ntowards the ASEAN community is really taking place; to empower
\nthem so that they can actively participate in the process; and to
\nfacilitate their participation.<\/p>\n
The formation of a \"we feeling\" requires the promotion of
\nliteracy among ASEAN nationals concerning ASEAN affairs. As for
\nIndonesians, for example, such a feeling suggests that becoming
\n\"ASEANese\" is as important as becoming an Indonesian. This
\n\"ASEANization\" should encourage ASEAN nationals to think and act
\nin terms of national and regional perspectives. Increasing the
\ncapacity of thinking and acting nationally and regionally in a
\nspontaneous manner is not a one-night gain. It requires
\ngovernments to embark on a rigorous and far-reaching social
\nengineering of the concept of ASEANness in the public, so it
\nbecomes internalized.<\/p>\n
This ASEANization could be facilitated by the development of
\ncivil society groups that have a particular interest in ASEAN or
\nin the Association's issues of concern. When governments lack
\nresources or are less explicit in their commitment, those groups
\ncould fill the void resulting from such a situation. With their
\noutreach access, these groups could help transmit information
\nconcerning ASEAN and its all aspects to the public at grass-roots
\nlevel.<\/p>\n
They also could help the public understand better what
\nbenefits they can have from Indonesia's membership in ASEAN.
\nOther important things these civil groups could contribute is to
\nserve as vehicle for the public to respond to and take part in
\nthe process. They should not necessarily become pressure or
\ninterest groups, but rather genuinely issue-oriented groups.<\/p>\n
The eventual manifestation of the ASEAN community should not
\nnecessarily be in the form of an ASEAN union or a regionalism
\nlike the African Union (AU) or the European Union (EU). There is
\nno doubt that the latter have higher levels of
\ninstitutionalization and integration. Nevertheless, if its
\nmembers wish, with greater commitment to closer and more
\nintensified cooperation and interaction as well as greater
\nwillingness to compromise the rigid notion of sovereignty, the
\nASEAN community could become an AU or EU in Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n
The writer (yanvontsazik@yahoo.com) currently serves as the
\nhead of the secretariat for advisers and special envoys of the
\npresident at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The
\nideas expressed in this article are his own.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/deepening-the-integration-of-southeast-asia-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}