21. ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations): Goals, members, successes and failures
ASEAN emerged as a beacon of unity in South East Asia. It is one of the most successful bloc of countries after the European Union. ASEAN is the major reason behind the meteoric rise of the region to a new level of development and prosperity from a dismal position back in 1970s. As a matter of fact, the region is being viewed as the new "Golden Sparrow" by the super powers like US, China and Russia. Be it US' "Pivot to Asia" or China's "Belt and Road Initiative" , the region has become a fulcrum of world politics and has assumed immense strategic importance. Undeniably, ASEAN is the force that catapulted the region from the clutches of backwardness to one of the most integrated, technologically advanced and developed area.
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| ASEAN countries |
Fast facts about ASEAN
- Established on 8 August, 1967 in Thailand, Secretariat is in Jakarta 1981.
- Motto of ASEAN “one vision, one identity, one community”.
- ASEAN flag has four colors ( Blue, Red, white, yellow)
- Founding members are Indonesia , Malaysia, Philippine, Singapore and Thailand
- Brunei joined in 1984, Vietnam in 1995, Myanmar and Laos in 1997 and Cambodia in 1999.
- Total membership stands at 10.
- 8 August is celebrated as ASEAN day. Total number of summits are 30, last was held in Manila 2017.
- Collective GDP is $2.5 trillion, 4th largest economy by 2050.
Fundamental principles
These core four notions were laid down in Treaty of Amity and Cooperation 1976⦁Respect for Independence, Sovereignty and Integrity
⦁No external interference
⦁Dispute settlement through peaceful means
⦁Renunciation of use of force
Aims and objectives
⦁Accelerate economic, social and cultural progress through partnership and joint ventures⦁Promote regional peace and stability
⦁Promote assistance and collaboration
⦁Collaboration in agriculture and industry
⦁Promote South East Asian studies.
Three important communities of ASEAN (2015)
⦁Security Community--- It publishes annual reports on security dimensions in the region.The basic purpose of the community is to preserve peace and tranquility in the geographical area. It stresses upon the need to resolve intra-regional disputes through pacific means.⦁Economic Community--- This community oversees the economic environment of the region. It also works on various ways to convert the region into a single market on the lines of the European Union. It also envisages integration of labor, capital and custom union as per the needs of various members of ASEAN.
⦁Socio-Cultural Community--- The basic aim of this community is to devise ways to encourage cultural and social ventures among the member countries in order to expand and deepen ties.
Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025
A plan was worked out to give a road-map for future relations among the member countries. Following areas have been identified
⦁Boosting physical connectivity and sustainable development
⦁Expediting institutional connectivity and digital innovation
Achievements of ASEAN
⦁Treaty on South East Asia nuclear-weapon-free zone (1995)
⦁It still exists as a functioning body unlike regional organizations like SAARC and Arab League.
⦁Another achievement is, despite its diversity (Communists, monarchies, democracies), it is conflict-free unlike South Asia.
⦁Rapid economic growth and living standards. (literacy rates/ gender equality)
⦁ASEAN has been diplomatically skillful in effectively playing “balance of power” politics (Acharya, 2009) amid rising hostility between PRC and Japan.
Weakness/failures of ASEAN
⦁Powerless with regard to Security as recently reflected in the South China Sea conflict. It has failed to come up as a unit against Chinese hegemonic designs.⦁It has not moved beyond economic cooperation. As it should have been. If we compare it with EU, it is lagging far behind. There is no monetary union, no free labor mobility, no custom union and no unified fiscal policy. So it has yet to achieve the “economic integration”
⦁Moreover Extra-regional trade ($ 1.7 trillion) is more intra-regional trade ($ 550 billion in 2015). It could not live up to its promise. Intra-regional trade is just 24% of the total trade volume. Whereas EU’s trade within is 63%.
⦁It has failed to devise a coherent policy in the face of rising powers such as India, Japan and PRC.
⦁Uneven progress, Singapore is the richest and Cambodia is the Poorest. So economic disparity is there.
⦁The issue of human rights violation (Myanmar), ASEAN policy of non-interference is a stumbling block. ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights was established in 2009 and by mid-2012 the Commission had formally drafted its own ASEAN Human Rights Declaration. It has failed to curtail some of egregious human rights violations.
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