The rise of ASEAN

The rise of ASEAN

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit to
be held in Bangkok this week is attracting world attention for
several reasons.

First, the birth of ASEAN marked a new phase in the
development of the Southeast Asian regional order.

Whereas the period before the founding of ASEAN was
characterized by intra-regional conflicts and tension among the
five states that were to become its initial members, relations
among these countries have been mostly harmonious in the past two
decades.

Interest has therefore been focused on ASEAN's role as a
promoter of peace in the region. External interest in ASEAN
development has also been stimulated by the characteristics of
the member states.

These states are Western-oriented, and most of them have been
relatively successful with policies of stability and economic
development.

These characteristics stand in contrast to the patterns of
development in many other developing regions in the world. The
ASEAN region is also seen as the economic engine that will fuel
the faltering world economy.

Furthermore, ASEAN has attracted attention because of its
durability, which contrasts with several earlier attempts at
regional cooperation in Southeast Asia.

With the end of the bipolar structure, ASEAN together with
other countries in the Asia-Pacific region is now actively
engaged in multilateral discussions and dialogs to find an
appropriate regional security framework.

After 28 years, ASEAN has emerged as a cohesive and vibrant
regional organization with enviable international stature,
confronting earlier skeptics who saw little future for the
association.

ASEAN has not only become the most important fixture in
Southeast Asian regional affairs, but it presence must also be
taken into account even in the wider Asia-Pacific region.

-- The Nation, Bangkok