ASEAN community and people of Southeast Asia

ASEAN community and people of Southeast Asia

Alexander C. Chandra, Jakarta

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has
gradually deepened its integration schemes over the 37 years of
its existence. During the early phase of its integration schemes,
during the 1970s, ASEAN introduced the ASEAN Preferential Trade
Agreements (ASEAN-PTA), ASEAN Industrial Joint Ventures (AIJV),
the ASEAN Industrial Projects (AIPs), and ASEAN Industrial
Complementation (AIC).

It was only during the early 1990s that ASEAN leaders began to
realize the importance of establishing the ASEAN Free Trade Area
(AFTA), with the objective of increasing the competitiveness of
ASEAN industries at the international level and to make ASEAN an
investment location. The Association's integration scheme was
once again strengthened with the introduction of the Bali Concord
of 2003, which called for the establishment of the ASEAN
Community (AC) by 2020. Despite aggressive attempts to promote
integration within the region, these initiatives are still
characterised by exclusivity, and do not necessarily represent
the actual needs of the Southeast Asian people.

However, the creation of the AC also signifies the exclusivity
of foreign economic policy-makers in the Southeast Asian region.
It remains questionable if this initiative truly reflects the
needs and interests of the Southeast Asian people.

To date, it is probably an exaggeration to suggest that there
is widespread support in the region for the creation of this
Community. The association and its activities remain quite
distant for most Southeast Asian people. ASEAN's integration
projects have so far been the initiatives of regional state
actors, and have never consulted with the people of Southeast
Asia.

Overall, ASEAN's initiative to more deeply integrate the
various communities of the Southeast Asian region is a positive
project that has to be supported. Unfortunately, the people of
Southeast Asia have never been consulted during the decision-
making processes of the ASEAN Community. Governments in the
region tend to listen only to the concerns made by certain
sections of their society, particularly economic actors. What is
worse, there is a tendency for regional governments to only
consult with the larger economic players.

As a result, most economic integration initiatives have been
reflections of the needs and interests of large economic actors,
such as transnational corporations (TNCs). This is also one of
the reasons why many of ASEAN's well-defined initiatives for
deeper integration in the region are becoming increasingly
irrelevant for the people of Southeast Asia.

Take the example of the current regional economic integration
initiative, the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA). It is still highly
questionable to what extent Southeast Asian people actually know
and understand this integration concept, or the supposed benefits
of regional economic integration. Even for those involved in
economic activity, AFTA is still a very abstract concept.

In Indonesia, for example, many small and medium sized
businesses are still confronted with difficulties in getting
involved in this trade arrangement. The overall benefits of AFTA
are still hardly felt by these economic actors, much less the
wider community.

No doubt, the strengthening of ASEAN regionalism through the
establishment of AC is a good concept that could help political
and economic stability in the region. It is also possible that
the creation of the ASEAN Community will produce a stronger
regional institution.

But it is also very important that this new, and stronger,
regional institution have more specific objectives in order to
promote positive regionalism. This means a regional project that
supports openness and transparency, democracy, and is not solely
based on the issue of trade liberalization. Most importantly,
this regional grouping must be fully supported by its own people.

Throughout its existence, ASEAN has made much progress in
terms of its integration projects. The development of ASEAN co-
operation, however, should be accompanied by much wiser policy-
making processes. The policies pursued by ASEAN should reflect
the needs and interests of its people, not merely the interests
of politicians and larger economic actors. Although the AC is
generally a very positive concept that must be pursued, it is
imperative that the regional institution and member governments
concerned consult their people prior to pursuing this ambitious
regional project.

The writer is a researcher of the Institute for Global Justice
(IGJ). He can be reached at alex@globaljust.org.