A.S.E.A.N

A.S.E.A.N

Outline for A.S.E.A.N

Introduction

At the 9th ASEAN Summit in 2003, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) decided to transform itself into an ASEAN Security Community (ASC).

The concept of “security community” describes a group of states that have developed a habit of peaceful interaction and ruled out the use of force in settling disputes with other members of the group (Deutsch 1961). In 2007 ASEAN celebrated its 40th anniversary.

ASEAN has given special importance to the issue of security and peaceful coexistence in a region that has been subjected to violence, especially during the second half of the twentieth century.

ASEAN also established the so-called ASEAN Regional Forum, known by its acronym in English as ARF (ASEAN Regional Forum) in 1994.

The ARF also discussed international issues such as terrorism and international crime and takes into account issues such as the South China Sea and the Korean peninsula, among others.

Background of ASEAN

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is an economic bloc of countries in Southeast Asia which was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok.

All ASEAN countries face the same major challenge: they are searching for a political system that will most appropriately maintain their values amidst global developments.

A key to this development is the ability of their societies to absorb modern values while maintaining their identity and self-confidence.

Human rights are one field in which the ASEAN countries should cooperate and consult with each other.

Several intra-ASEAN problems could hamper ASEAN's growth and the sustainability of its development in the future.

ASEAN-ISIS will address these bilateral issues in its next annual meeting and examine ways and means to overcome them. This is the first such effort undertaken among ASEAN institutions and will be helpful in finding solutions to these outstanding issues.

ASEAN-ISIS has proposed strengthening ASEAN's security cooperation. Cooperation in the security field should be multilateral, creating "a community of security interest," enhancing transparency and promoting confidence-building among its members.

DIME (Diplomacy, Identity, Military and Economics)

Non-traditional military operations such as peacekeeping and stabilization are becoming increasingly critical for the US Military. In support of these operations, CADS aims to develop, in conjunction with Applied Systems Identity, Inc., a computer application for predicting the effects of Diplomatic, Identity, Military, and Economic (DIME) operations on the Political, Military, Economic, Social, Infrastructure, and Identity (PMESII) status of the affected area. The application will draw on a number of existing models in a variety of fields, including economics, political science, and sociology. Soldiers in the field will gather data on the current state of the PMESII. This data, as well as historical data, will be used to make predictions which commanders can use to make tactical decisions.

ASEAN and Economic Development

Three economic projects emerged from the 1976 ASEAN meeting, two of them industrial and the third designed to facilitate trade.

The two industrial projects were complex and had little chance for realisation. The first, ASEAN Industrial Projects (AIP), was overly ambitious, envisioning the establishment of a regional industrial scheme comprising complementary industries in each country.

The Philippines decided that it did not want the super ...