Thirty Years of Asean: Achievements and Challenges
Author(s)
Dosch, Jorn; Mols, Manfred
Abstract
This article first takes stock of the experiences, successes, and shortcomings of Southeast Asian regionalism. During its thirty years, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has demonstrated the capability to react to international developments and to handle interstate relations on a constructive and cooperative basis. It is perhaps the most valuable achievement of ASEAN that the association, taking advantage of its well-established dialogue mechanisms, has successfully managed to keep residual conflicts between the members (especially territorial dispute) from developing into full-blown crises. The article then discusses the extent to which past experiences, performances, patterns of organization, and past interpretations of ASEAN’s role in the international system should be maintained and where innovation is required. Although ASEAN should not surrender its basic rules and norms, the association requires reengineering in key sectors to meet the challenges of the new international order in the aftermath of the Cold War.
