ASEAN: Summary Chapter 1

1. Chapter 1 why ASEAN matters
ASEAN’s way into the 21st century
 The ASEAN way refers to a low level of supranational elements and preference for
consensus-building.
 The ASEAN way has been useful and has to be modified and adjusted in application if
ASEAN is to continue to be relevant and effective in 21st century.
 ASEAN’s basic principles could be compromised by imposing albeit indirectly, an
economic direction that seeks globalismends.
 ASEAN tries its best to have enhanced political, economic and sociocultural
collaboration of diverse countries as it strives for future regional reiteration.
Pro and cons of regional integration
 Has been no open war among member states since 1967.
 It known as paper tiger or talk shop and lack of formal mechanisms to solve dispute.
 The principle of consensus making helps balance different interests but the results in
increased legal security and even visa free entry within the region.
 Low expenses of apparatus but difficult to create collective identity due to cultural and
political diversity.
 Enlarged market attracts foreign direct investment but some member state might
benefit more from integration than others.
 Increased legal security for citizens while traveling and working but occasional
contradictions between rhetoric and action
 Regional block has stronger voice in global trade talk but complicated structure might
lead to overlap and difficulties in understanding
 Breaking the power of selfish national interest group preventing reforms but increase
bureaucracy might consume a disproportion share of public money.
More than summits: ASEAN as a new topic
 It various bodies are more and more aware that ASEAN community can be built only
when all sector of society get involved.
 The new topic, its policy fields are daintily newsworthy and important for media within
and outside.

2.  From disaster management to poverty eradication, form free trade agreements to it
single window, from the games to youth empowerment.
 They could very well study the positive and negative implications of globalization, for
instance in the context of the social list it brings to disadvantaged people.