Southeast Asian Nations (southeast + asian_nation)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Southeast Asia: A Community of Diversity

POLITICS & POLICY, Issue 1 2007
Damien Kingsbury
The region known as the Southeast provides the basis for a broad political community characterized by cultural and ethnic diversity, disparities in economic performance, and differences in regime and constitutional foundations. In recent years, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) group of nations has made strides toward building a community based on respect for these differences. Despite a growing acceptance for democratic processes and human rights, the influence of these values over existing institutions and state behavior remains incomplete. The future development of the ASEAN region, and the nations that comprise it, is likely to be based on the strength and character of the relationships these states forge with one another and with more powerful external actors. [source]


Australia's Attitude Toward Asian Values and Regional Community Building1

POLITICS & POLICY, Issue 1 2007
Purnendra Jain
Australia's engagement with Asian countries has often been problematic. In recent times, both for economic and security purposes, Australia has sought to deepen its relationship with its Asian neighbors, seeking, among other things, a more formal, ongoing role with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The response of Asian countries has not always been welcoming, with some Asian leaders questioning the value, appropriateness, and consequences of Australian engagement with Asia. This article reviews the policies of successive Australian governments toward Asia, ranging from the more enthusiastic approach of Labor governments to the more ambivalent position taken under the current prime minister, John Howard. While Australia is not in a position to endorse "Asian values," whatever these may be, neither is it in the country's interest to remain aloof from a region important to its economic prosperity and security. [source]


Building e-government in East and Southeast Asia: Regional rhetoric and national (in)action

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 4 2002
Ian HollidayArticle first published online: 9 OCT 200
Among many regional policy initiatives taken by states in East and Southeast Asia in the wake of the 1997 financial crisis, one central project launched by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and taken up by its dialogue partners in East Asia, was promotion of information and communication technology. While part of ASEAN's 1999,2004 action plan focused on services for business, another part sought to put public sectors online, and to promote electronic government, or e-government. Taking the 16 states and quasi-states of East and Southeast Asia, this article evaluates progress at the action plan's mid-point in January 2002. It begins by defining e-government and reviewing three academic literatures on the information age, developmental states, and Confucian societies. It then describes the major policy initiatives taken by ASEAN and its partner states, and surveys implementation progress through an analysis of government homepages and sites. Its main finding is that e-government activity in East and Southeast Asia is highly diverse, reflecting national strengths and weaknesses rather than regional capacity for policy change. The article argues for increased attention to national implementation strategies. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Committing to regional cooperation: ASEAN, globalisation and the Shin Corporation , Temasek Holdings deal

ASIA PACIFIC VIEWPOINT, Issue 3 2009
Sajid Anwar
Abstract This paper investigates the relationship between regional and national identities in the age of globalisation, with particular reference to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). For members of ASEAN, economic integration is seen as a necessary step forward in order to (i) reduce reliance on Western countries during times of economic crisis and (ii) speed up the recovery process in the aftermath of a crisis. The concept of an ASEAN Economic Community represents a step towards achieving this goal. However, by means of a case study, this paper demonstrates that the idea of an ASEAN Economic Community does not yet have sufficiently solid foundations. Cracks appear when member states act in response to national interest. Given the frequency of friction between member nations, and the fact that ASEAN members are quite diverse in both economic and cultural respects, there is still much more to be done to realise the objective of forming an effective and credible regional economic group. In this paper some suggestions are offered that might assist with the achievement of this goal. [source]


Explaining Trade Flows of Singapore

ASIAN ECONOMIC JOURNAL, Issue 1 2004
Hans C. Blomqvist
The objective of this paper is twofold. First, the development of the trade patterns of Singapore and particularly between Singapore and its South-East Asian partners will be outlined and interpreted against a backdrop of relevant trade policy measures, for example in the context of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Second, a simple model of the gravity type is applied in order to establish and quantify the role of various trade determinants. Despite the fact that Singapore has strived at being a ,global city', it remains rather heavily biased towards East Asia as far as foreign trade is concerned. The role of ASEAN in particular is strong, even if the role of entrepôt trade tends to exaggerate the degree of integration between the economies of Singapore and ASEAN. It also seems clear that the latter, as an organization, has not contributed much to the development of trade relations between its members. Rather the closeness and the liberalization of these economies during the last 15 years or so appear to have been decisive. It is interesting to note that the newer members of ASEAN seem to have been integrated quickly in Singapore's economic network. [source]


ASEAN in the Asia Pacific: Central or Peripheral?

ASIAN POLITICS AND POLICY, Issue 4 2010
Julio Santiago Amador III
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is an enduring regional organization in the Asia Pacific. However, its claim of being central to any talks on regional architecture is challenged by a multiplicity of external and internal factors. This article assesses ASEAN's centrality by looking into the possible challenges facing it, which inevitably affect its claim to be the central organization in managing the direction of the wider region. It then offers possible ways forward so that ASEAN can retain its leadership and prove to be a credible driver for regional cooperation. [source]


Unraveling the Logic of ASEAN's Decision-Making: Theoretical Analysis and Case Examination

ASIAN POLITICS AND POLICY, Issue 3 2010
Yi-hung Chiou
Throughout its history, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has based decisions on consensus and consultation, producing a loosely defined, weak regional organization. The results of nonbinding and watered-down resolutions make substantial progress for ASEAN difficult. This article explores the logic of ASEAN's decision-making by applying rational choice theory. It argues that the characteristics of ASEAN's decision-making mechanism allow member states to base their actions on how individual nations perceive their interests to be best served by group resolutions. By constructing a series of hypotheses to pattern ASEAN's decision-making, this article examines four cases and how players resolved each. The findings suggest that the constraints of group decision-making and divergent interests between member states play a major role in shaping the effectiveness of resolutions. [source]