ASEAN Centrality in Asian Regional Architecture

https://doi.org/10.22146/globalsouth.28821

Frassminggi Kamasa(1*)

(1) Direktorat Jenderal Amerika dan Eropa, Kementerian Luar Negeri
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract


This study examines the regional architecture process in Asia. Specifically, I empirically focus on what ASEAN’s role in contemporary Asian regional architecture is and what challenge and opportunities lie ahead. In contrast to other studies, I consider whether the ASEAN as a driving force of the regional architecture in Asia should only be considered in an over-arching macro-analytical sense in order to contain China. Such an approach to the concept may not work in explaining what change in Asia and its relations with the ASEAN centrality. Additionally, I consider why there is a need for regional architecture in Asia. Using a single-case analysis of ASEAN role in regional architecture from 2009-2012, I found evidence of an association between bargaining and mutual satisfaction while embracing different motives and power for doing regional architecture. Moreover, I demonstrate that it makes sense to talk about regional identity whenever ASEAN is struggling to project a common voice.



Keywords


ASEAN; ASEAN Centrality; Asia; regional architecture; strategic

Full Text:

PDF


References

Acharya, A. (1993) A new regional order in South-East Asia: ASEAN in the post-cold war era, adelphi paper 279. Oxford: Oxford University Press/IISS.

Acharya, A. (2007) The emerging regional architcture of world politics. (Kota: Penerbit).

Allen, P. (2012) Gaddafi was killed by French secret serviceman on orders of Nicolas Sarkozy, sources claim [Online], Mail Online. Available from: [Accessed 30 September 2012].

Arsana, M. A. (2011) Predicting Indonesia’s maritime boundaries [Online], The Jakarta Post. Available from: [Accessed 22 September 2012].

ASEAN. (2005) Text of the treaty of amity and cooperation in Southeast Asia. ASEAN [Online], March. Available from: [Accessed 6 August 2012].

ASEAN. (2008) The ASEAN charter. Jakarta: The ASEAN Secretariat.

ASEAN. (2011) Declaration of the 6th East Asia summit on ASEAN connectivity. The ASEAN Secretariat [Online], November. Available from: [Accessed 3 October 2012].

ASEAN. (2011) Declaration of the East Asia summit on the principles for mutual beneficial relations. The ASEAN Secretariat [Online], November. Available from: [Accessed 3 October 2012].

ASEAN. (2012) ASEAN community in figures 2011. The ASEAN Secretariat [Online], April. Available from: [Accessed 7 August 2012].

Ball, D. (1999) The evolving security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region. Canberra: Australian National University.

BBC. (2012) Clinton urges ASEAN unity over South China Sea rows [Online], BBC. Available from: [Accessed 5 September 2012].

Bergmann, A. (2011) World's largest economies [Online], CNN Money. Available from: [Accessed 1 October 2012].

Besson, M. (2004) Contemporary Southeast Asia: regional dynamics, national differences. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Bhattacharyay, B. N. (2010) Institutions for Asian connectivity. Journal of International Commerce, Economics and Policy (JICEP), pp. 309-335.

Bisley, N. (2007) East Asia's changing regional architecture: towards an East Asian economic community?. (Pacific Affairs).

Budiman, A. (2008) Masyarakat ekonomi ASEAN 2015: memperkuat sinergi ASEAN di tengah kompetensi global (ASEAN economic community 2015: strengthening ASEAN synergy in the middle of global competition). Jakarta: Elex Media Komputindo.

Buzan, B. & Wæver, O. (2003) Regions and owers: the structure of international security. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Chalmers, M. (1997) ASEAN and confidence building: continuity and change after the Cold War. Contemporary Security Policy 18 (3), p. 53.

Clinton, H. R. (2010) Remarks on regional architecture in Asia: principles and priorities [Online], U.S. Department of State. Available from: [Accessed 1 October 2012].

Darity, W. (2008) Postnationalism, in: International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. Detroit: Macmillan Reference.

Donghyun, P. & Estrada, G. (2009) Are developing Asia's foreign exchange reserves excessive? An empirical examination [Online], ADB Economic Working Paper Series. Available from: [Accessed 25 September 2012].

Dormandy, X. (2012) Prepared for future threats? US defense partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region. Chatham House [Online], June. Available from: [Accessed 16 September 2012].

East Asia Vision Group (2002) final report of the East Asia study group. Phnom Penh: ASEAN.

East Asia Vision Group (2005) ASEAN +3 document series 1999-2004. The ASEAN Secretariat [Online], April. Available from: [Accessed 6 October 2012].

East Asia Vision Group. (2001) Towards an East Asia community: regions of peace, prosperity, and progress. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan [Online]. Available from: [Accessed 26 September 2012].

European Union. (2011) Main traders in the world. European Union Trade Committee [Online]. Available from: [Accessed 20 September 2012].

Fenenko, A. (2012) Russian foreign policy: Focusing on Asia [Online], Valdai Discussion Club. Available from: [Accessed 26 July 2012].

Frieden, J. (2006) Global capitalism: its fall and rise in the twentieth century. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.

Friedrichs, J. (2012) East Asian regional security: what the ASEAN family can (not) do. (Kota: Penerbit).

Goh, E. (2005) Meeting the China challange: the U.S. in Southeast Asian regional security strategies. Washington: East-West Center.

Griffiths, M., O'Callaghan, T., & Roach, S. (2008) International relations: the key concepts. New York: Routledge.

Hall, M., & Jackson, P. T. (2007) Civilizational identity. the production and reproduction of "civilizations" in international relations. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Harman, S. (2007) Confidence building measure, in: Encyclopedia of Governance. California: Sage Reference.

Hitipeuw, J. (2012) SBY: Indonesia to improve its role in int'l cooperation [Online], Kompas. Available from: [Accessed 10 September 2012].

Hitt, M., & R. Duane, I. (2005) Achieving and maintaining strategic competitiveness in the 21st century: the role of strategic leadership. (Academy of Management Executive).

Human Security Project. (2011) Human security report 2009/2010: the causes of peace and the shrinking costs of war [Online], Human Security Report. Available from: http://www.hsrgroup.org/human-security-reports/20092010/overview.aspx [Accessed 26 July 2012].

Ito, T. (1993) U.S. political pressure and the economic liberalization in East Asia. The National Bureau of Economic Research [Online], January. Available from: [Accessed 1 October 2012].

Jiechi, Y. (2007) Address by Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi at ASAN plus three foreign ministers meeting [Online], Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. Available from: [Accessed 5 October 2012].

Kamasa, F. (2010) Future of ASEAN and ties with Korea [Online], The Korea Times. Available from: [Accessed 1 October 2012].

Kapuchu, N. (2007) Strategic planning, in: Encylopedia of Governance. California: Sage Reference.

Kemlu (2010) Prospek perkembangan strategis arsitektur kawasan Asia Pasifik 2010-2020: implikasinya bagi politik luar negeri RI (prospect of regional architecture strategic development in Asia-Pacific 2010-2020: implication for the Indonesian foreign policy). Jakarta: BPPK.

Kingsbury, D. (2007) Timor-Leste: the harsh reality after independence. (Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies).

Leung, S. (2012) China to overtake U.S. as largest trading nation, HSBC says [Online], . Bloomberg. Available from: [Accessed 21 September 2012].

Lockard, C. (2009) Southeast Asia in world history. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Medvedev, D. (2010) Speech at the second ASEAN-Russia summit [Online], President of Russia. Available from: [Accessed 10 October 2012].

Meriam-Webster. (2012) Strategic [Online], Encyclopaedia Britannica Company. Available from: [Accessed 2012].

Midlarsky, M. (2000) The power transition research program: assessing theoretical and empirical advances. In Lemke, D. & Kugler, J. The handbook of war studies II. Michigan: University of Michigan Press, pp. 129-163.

Mishra, P. (2012) The ruins of empire: Asia's emergence from western imperialism [Online], The Guardian. Available fom: [Accessed 27 September 2012].

Morrison, W. & Labonte, M. (2011) China’s holdings of U.S. securities: Implications for the U.S. economy. Congressional Research Service [Online]. Available from: [Accessed 1 October 2012].

Nanto, D. (2008) East Asian regional architecture: new economic and security arrangements and U.S. policy. Congressional Research Service [Online], January. Available from: [Accessed 16 September 2012].

Natalegawa, M. (2010) Speech by H.E. Dr. R.M. Marty M. Natalegawa minister for foreign affairs of the Republic of Indonesia at the flag hosting in commemorating ASEAN’s 43rd anniversary [Online], Kementerian Luar Negeri Republik Indonesia. Available from: [Accessed 10 August 2012].

Natalegawa, M. (2011) Welcoming remarks by H.E. Dr. R.M. Marty M. Natalegawa minister for foreign affairs Republic of Indonesia at the 44th ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting, Bali, Indonesia, 19 July 2011 [Online], Kementerian Luar Negeri Republik Indonesia. Available from: [Accessed 19 August 2012].

National Defense University. (2012) The air university [Online], Strategic Leadership and Decision Making. Available from: [Accessed 28 September 2012].

Nehru, V. (2011) Southeast Asia: Crouching tiger or hidden dragon? [Online], Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Available from: [Accessed 26 July 2012].

Nishikawa, Y. (2007) The "ASEAN way" and Asian regional security. (New York: Blackwell Publishing).

O’Connor, P. (2009) Australian imperialism, the 1999 East Timor intervention and the pseudo-left [Online], World Socialist Web Site. Available from: [Accessed 6 October 2012].

Organski, A., & Tammen, R. (2000) Power transitions: strategies for the 21st century. New York: Chatham House.

Pattiradjawane, R. (2012) Kombinasi dinamis dalam keseimbangan baru (Dynamic combination in a new dynamic equilibrium) [Online], Kompas. Available from: [Accessed 11 October 2012].

Rachmianto, A. (2011) Building new regional architecture in East asia: the role of ASEAN. Jurnal Diplomasi, pp. 67-85.

Rais, A. (2008) Agenda mendesak bangsa. Selamatkan Indonesia! (Urgent agenda of the nation: Save indonesia!). Yogyakarta: PPSK Press.

Rasyid, A. A. (2008) Bangkitnya perekonomian Asia Timur: satu dekade setelah krisis (The rise of East Asia's economy: decade after crisis). Jakarta: Elex Media Komputindo.

Reuters. (1997) Myanmar likely to be ASEAN members despite US pressure [Online], New Straits Times. Available from: [Accessed 27 September 2012].

Reyes, V., Shie, T. R., & Lizaso, M. (2004) Transformations: a region in the making. Manila: Far Eastern University.

Roach, S. (2007) Critical theory and international relations. London: Routledge.

Ruggie, J. G. (2003) Constructing the world polity: essays on international institutionalization. London: Routledge.

Sardesai, D. (2003) Southeast Asia: past and present. New York: Westview Press.

Severino, R. (2006) Southeast Asia in search of an ASEAN community:insights from the former ASEAN secretary-general. Singapore: ISEAS Publishing.

Stryker, S. (2001). Identity theory, in: Encyclopedia of Sociology. New York: Macmillan.

Sukma, R. (2014) ASEAN beyond 2015: the imperative for further institutional changes. Jakarta: Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

The Economist. (2010) Dating game. when will China overtake America? [Online], . The Economist. Available from: [Accessed 1 October 2012].

The World Bank. (2011) World development indicators [Online]. Available from: The World Bank http://siteresources.worldbank.org/DATASTATISTICS/Resources/wdi_ebook.pdf [Accessed 7 September 2012].

Tokatlian, J. G. (2009) The end of Monroe doctrine [Online], The Santiago Times. Available from: [Accessed 26 September 2012].

Tow, W. & Acharya, A. (2007) Obstinate or obsolete? The US alliance structure in the Asia-Pacific. ANU [Online]. Available from: [Accessed 10 October 2012].

Tow, W. & Taylor, B. (January 2010) What is Asian security architecture?. Review of International Studies, pp. 95-116.

Tow, W. (2009) Security politics in the Asia-Pacific: a regional global nexus?. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Umar, A. R. (2011) A critical reading of ‘Natalegawa doctrine’ [Online], The Jakarta Post. Available from: [Accessed 10 August 2012].

World Nuclear Association. (2013) Asia’s nuclear energy growth [Online], World Nuclear Association. Available from: [Accessed 2 June 2014].

Xinhua. (2012) China says US strategic pressure not conducive to Asia's development [Online], NAM News Network. Available from: [Accessed 1 September 2012].

Xu, M. (2007) Awareness and assessment of strategic intelligence: a diagnostic tool. In Xu, M. Managing strategic intelligence: techniques and technologies. Philadelphia: Information Science Reference, pp. 122-140.



DOI: https://doi.org/10.22146/globalsouth.28821

Article Metrics

Abstract views : 4322 | views : 7181

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

View My Stats

 

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.