ASEAN: History and Norms

Week 10
What is ASEAN?
• ASEAN is a regional organization that
promotes political cooperation, economic
growth, and social progress in Southeast
Asia
• Established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok,
Thailand
• Founding members: Indonesia, Malaysia,
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand
• It was formed during a time of regional
tension to ensure peace and unity among
neighbors.

ASEAN Charter
Background
• In the 1960s, Southeast Asia faced wars, conflicts, and the influence of
superpowers during the Cold War
• Countries in the region realized the need for cooperation instead of
confrontation
• ASEAN was created to build trust, reduce tensions, and promote regional
stability
• For example, after years of hostility, Indonesia and Malaysia reconciled
through ASEAN’s founding, especially the 1963-1966 Konfrontasi
• Indonesia opposed the creation of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963 to unite
Malaya, Singapore, Sabah, & Sarawak

(Acharya, 2009)
Cont.
• The 1966 peace agreement and Suharto’s
new government opened the way for both
nations to cooperate and co-found ASEAN,
promoting regional stability and economic
growth
• Through the peace talks, Sukarno lost
power, and Suharto shifted from
confrontation to reconciliation. Mediated
by Thailand and finally signed the Bangkok
Agreement.
ASEAN Expansion
• ASEAN started with 5 members and
expanded to include all 11
Southeast Asian countries:
• Brunei (1984)
• Vietnam (1995)
• Laos and Myanmar (1997)
• Cambodia (1999)
• East Timor (2025)
• This shows ASEAN’s success in
building a sense of regional unity
and inclusiveness
ASEAN Secretariat
ASEAN Key Principles
• ASEAN is guided by core principles often called the ASEAN Way
• Non-interference → Members do not intervene in each other’s
internal affairs
• Consensus-based decision-making → All decisions are made
together, not by majority vote
• Respect for sovereignty and equality → Every member is treated
equally, regardless of size or power
• These norms promote peace and mutual trust

ASEAN Charter
The ASEAN Way
• The “ASEAN Way” emphasizes informal diplomacy, dialogue, and
mutual respect
• Rather than confrontation or sanctions, ASEAN prefers negotiation
and patience
• On issues like the Myanmar crisis, ASEAN relies on dialogue and
regional consensus instead of punishment
• This approach keeps unity, but can make decisions slow
The ASEAN Charter
• Adopted in 2007, the ASEAN Charter
turned ASEAN into a formal
organization with legal identity
• It defines ASEAN’s goals, rules, and
institutional structure
• It strengthens the Secretariat’s role in
coordinating activities
• It also highlights human rights,
democracy, and good governance as
ASEAN values

ASEAN Charter
ASEAN Vision 2025
• Aims to build a peaceful, stable, and prosperous community. Adopted
in 2015
• Also guide its integration and development towards a "people-
centered, people-oriented, and resilient" community by 2025
• It’s divided into three main pillars:
1. Political-Security Community (APSC) – to maintain peace and stability.
2. Economic Community (AEC) – to create a single market and production
base.
3. Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) – to promote shared identity and social
progress.
ASEAN Political–Security Community (APSC)
• The APSC aims to make
Southeast Asia a region of
peace, freedom, and
neutrality
• It encourages cooperation in:
• Conflict prevention and
resolution through dialogue
• Combating terrorism,
trafficking, and cybercrime
• Promoting democracy and
human rights
How does APSC work?
• ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF): Promotes dialogue among ASEAN and
partners like the US, China, and Japan
• ADMM (ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting): Encourages defense
cooperation and joint exercises
• ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster
Management: Coordinates disaster management and humanitarian
assistance
• These efforts build mutual trust and security networks

ASEAN Secretariat
Challenges in APSC
• The non-interference principle limits ASEAN’s ability to respond to
crises like Myanmar’s political conflict
• Different political systems (democracy, monarchy, military rule)
sometimes make consensus difficult
• External power rivalry (US–China tensions) can divide member
interests
• Despite these, ASEAN remains a key platform for dialogue
ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)
• The AEC was launched in 2015 to
form a single market and
production base
• Goals
• Remove trade barriers
• Encourage investment and skilled
labor mobility
• Make ASEAN a competitive and
globally integrated economy
AEC Challenges
• Economic inequality → Big gaps between richer states (Singapore,
Malaysia, with high GDP per capita) and poorer ones (Laos,
Myanmar).
• Non-tariff barriers → Complex regulations still hinder free trade.
Different national standards
• Limited labor mobility → Skilled professionals face visa and
recognition barriers. Barriers in the visa process include each
country's different national standards and requirements, among
others
• ASEAN continues to work on narrowing these gaps
 ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC)

• The ASCC focuses on people-centered

development and regional identity
• Goals
• Promoting education, health, gender equality, and
cultural exchange
• ASEAN University Network (AUN) → Links
universities for research and academic exchange
• ASEAN Youth Volunteer Programme (AYVP) → an
initiative for young people from ASEAN member
states to engage in community service, cultural
exchange, and leadership development
• These initiatives bring the ASEAN people
closer together
ASEAN Norms
• All three pillars share common
values…
• Dialogue over confrontation
• Respect for sovereignty and
consensus
• Shared responsibility for peace and
prosperity
• These norms help ASEAN remain
united despite political diversity
Conclusion
• Strengthen regional unity to face global challenges
• ASEAN’s journey shows how cooperation, mutual respect, and shared
norms can create regional peace and progress
• While challenges remain, such as inequality and external pressures,
ASEAN continues to evolve as a model for regional integration
Thank you!!