ASEAN

THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS

In 1997, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) celebrated its thirtieth year of existence. Normally, when a government organization reaches a 30-year point, it is the cause for reflection -- both internally as the group evaluates its original goals and sets plans for the next decades, and externally, when the press and other governments analyze the group's shortcomings. This paper will perform much of that same function.

Part 1 will provide a brief historical overview of ASEAN. Part 2 will analyze the present organization. Part 3 will detail the major security, economic, social and organizational concerns and conflicts apparent in the organization. Part 4 will look toward the future, trying to estimate ASEAN's future impact on world politics and a global economy.

In 1967 the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was formed with just six nations: Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. According to the original charter papers, the Association had several goals: (a) to promote social and cultural understanding between and among all 10 nations that comprise the area known as Southeast Asia, (b) to form a defense bloc that would ensure no encroachment of individual members' territories, (c) to create a body that could solve problems of mutual concern, and (d) to establish satisfactory trade and tariff regulations that would ma

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isingly, none of those dealt with the economic crisis in Southeast Asia. Instead, there was a listing of task forces to deal with the environment, crime, health, education, population, cultural outreach. and so on. Instead, all economic items and concerns were relegated to the ASEAN Economic Ministers Summit which is held at the same time and the same place: "This is typical. The money issues cause member nations to lose face, so the money discussions are done by the heads of state's financial ministers" (Sihouk, 1998). In a carefully worded document entitled "Joint Press Statement of Private Sector Roundtable on the Impact of and Response to the Financial Crisis in ASEAN" and dated March 26 and 27,1998, ASEAN finally made an official statement concerning the Asian financial crisis that had been the subject of editorials in the world press for two years. According to that document, the organizations involved were the ASEAN Bankers Association, ASEAN Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ASEAN Business Forum, ASEAN Federation of Accountants and the ASEAN Forum of Credit Rating Agencies. The Roundtable also included Dr. Suthad Setboonsarng, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Yilmaz Akyuz, Chief, Macroeconomic and Developm

Category: Foreign - A