The Strong in the World of the Weak “Southeast Asia in Asia’s Regional Architecture” Amitav Achaarya Sint Sint 4013R324-4 6th January 2014

Contents Introduction Evolution of ASEAN’s role in Asian Regionalism Debates in Regional Architecture The US Role and its Alliances Principles of Southeast Asian and Asian Regionalism Conclusion

Introduction Why ? Theoretical perspectives (Realism, Constructivism) ASEAN has been able to "lead" Asia Regionalism Why ? Theoretical perspectives (Realism, Constructivism) How? Four points

Soft realism Vs Constructivism Individual members are lack of power but collectively they acquire enough bargaining power and could influence the attention of great powers through its regional institutions ASEAN, binding together through soft power of national identities to have the leading role in the region

Logic of Soft Realism Institutions control by weaker states, less threatening Enjoy more legitimacy than institution created by stronger powers

I. Evolution of ASEAN’ role in Asian Regionalism Post WW II : unimportant role During Cold War: marked the high point of ASEAN-led regionalism Post Cold War: as a central stage in East Asian regionalism

Post WW II: Asian Regionalism pan-Asian, Afro-Asian, sub-regional (Southeast Asian), trans-Pacific (Asia-Pacific), and East Asia India’s role: the first Asian conference: 1947- 49 pan-Asian sentiment: Bandung Asia-African Conference in 1955 Indonesia and Myanmar (Burma) performed initial regionalist (pan-Asian)concepts No clear separation between South and Southeast Asia. Sovereignty and nonintervention is symbol of early Asian regionalism

During Cold War: Formation of ASEAN 1967, founded by five original members ASEAN’s model is informal, Non legalistic, and sovereignty-enhancing cooperation Southeast Asian countries were cautious of dominated by "outside“ regional powers Political and security as a major concern Marked as the high point of ASEAN-led regionalism

Post Cold War: East Asian Regionalism APEC, ARF: new ideas of cooperative security for practical implementation APEC, ARF: ASEAN becomes the centre stage APT then EAS towards the final goal of East Asian Community

II. Debates in Regional Architecture Cause: Asian Economic crisis of 1997 Two Major Issues: the direction of ASEAN ASEAN reform: economic and security spheres the Role of ASEAN Broader regional institution (two main perspectives: narrower and broader _ APT Vs EAS_ inclusive and exclusive)

ASEAN Reform Economic area Thailand : flexible engagement (nonintervention issue) Singapore: ASEAN economic community (ASEAN Charter: institutionalized and legalized) Security area Indonesia: ASEAN security community (regional human right mechanism and enshrining democracy)

Broader regional institution Two main perspectives Exclusive : Malaysia (supported by China) APT toward East Asia Community Inclusive : East Asian regionalism Open regionalism and cooperative security (Singapore & Indonesia: supported by Japan, close ties the US)

ASEAN’s view: Other regional organizations APEC : nervous on the US dominant Washington Agenda for trade liberalization ARF: remain the driver’s seat Still vague in interest or regional issues: south china sea, Taiwan issue, Korean Peninsula Workable in transnational issues: terrorism and transnational crime

III. The US Role and its Alliances Perspectives on the US’s Role - Southeast Asian states: regional view - ASEAN members states: individual (regional friends and allies) - Intra-ASEAN differences

Southeast Asian states: regional view - Limited the US interest and engagement in broader ASEAN members: Greatest challenges for the US indifference and dominance the US emphasis on APEC vehicle for trade liberalization the US ‘s regional friends and allies not embrace in the EAS Intra-ASEAN : difference over the US military presence during and after cold war US bilateralism and regional ASEAN-led multilateralism

IV. The Principles and Norms: Southeast Asian and Asian Regionalism Basic Principles Reducing interstate wars Enhancing domestic stability Preventing any single outside powers Other Principles Open and nonexclusionary regionalism Non-interference in the internal affairs of states No regional military pacts, and ASEAN leadership in regional institutions

Challenges for the Principles ASEAN accept the US military dominance : an off-shore balancer for rising China Open regionalism was challenged among the ASEAN and non-ASEAN members (EAS, ARF and APT) Non interference principle is more difficult to assess (within and without ASEAN)

Conclusion ASEAN’s leadership has evolved, expanded, and entered a new phase toward Asian regionalism the origin regional grouping in Asia a bridge as Indian and Pacific oceans rich in resources human and natural for economic globalization the institutional platform for wider Asia Pacific and East Asian regional institutions the centre of Asian regionalist debates and interactions over changing norms and mechanisms

Institutional Dilemma ASEAN: a state-centric, sovereignty-bounded nations (Still struggling internal and external threats itself) Seriously mismatch between traditional institution for grasping state sovereignty Vs transnational regionalism (APT, ARF, EAS) APT= ASEAN+3 (China+S.Korea+Japan) EAS= APT+3 (India+ Australia+ New Zealand)+Papua New Guinea +Russia ARF= EAS+ US+ Canada+ EU+N.Korea+Pakistan + Bangldesh +Sri Lanka+ Mongolia + East Timor

Comment - Asian regionalism: a crucial element to survive for small nations facing large and powerful countries - soft institutionalism: gradually give way to bureaucratization and legalization, but only gradually and limitedly - continues to hold driver’s seat through regional cooperation to have greater international clout rather than singular national existence and efforts. Exclusive APT, ARF Inclusive EAS State-centric nations

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