ASEAN's Half Century: A Political History of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations

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This authoritative book provides a comprehensive political history of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the ten members of which are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Leading scholar Donald E. Weatherbee follows ASEAN from its inception in 1967, when it was founded with the goal of promoting peace, stability, security, and economic growth in the region. Throughout, a basic assumption of its leaders has been that the achievement of the first three conditions is necessary for the fourth. Weatherbee traces ASEAN’s three reinventions: in 1976, it made security a primary Cold War interest; in 1992, it refocused on economic integration; in 2007, it adopted the ASEAN Charter, which was the legal basis for the establishment of the ASEAN Community in 2015. He shows how at each stage of its development, ASEAN has dealt at three levels of action: the regional international order; intra-ASEAN relations; and the spillover of the domestic politics of member states into regional relations, particularly on questions of democracy and human rights. ASEAN’s greatest contemporary political challenge is in adapting to the regional impact of the US–China rivalry, particularly over South China Sea issues. For ASEAN to maintain its claim to centrality as a driving force in the regional security architecture, the author argues, a fourth reinvention may be required. Dispelling the myths surrounding the organization’s achievements fifty years after its founding, this book will be invaluable for all readers interested in ASEAN’s role in the broader Asia-Pacific region. Contents Acknowledgments Note on ASEAN Documentation Abbreviations Chapter 1. Introduction to ASEAN: ASEAN’s Fiftieth Birthday Chapter 2. The Founding of ASEAN: The Bangkok Declaration Chapter 3. ASEAN’s First Reinvention: The 1976 First ASEAN Summit Chapter 4. The Third Indochina War: The Situation in Kampuchea Chapter 5. The Expansion of ASEAN: From Five to Ten Chapter 6. Adapting to Peace: The 1988 Third ASEAN Summit Chapter 7. ASEAN’s Second Reinvention: The 1992 Fourth ASEAN Summit Chapter 8. ASEAN’s Third Reinvention: The Building Blocks of the ASEAN Community Chapter 9. Intra-ASEAN Conflict: Norms versus Behavior Chapter 10. ASEAN’s Existential Crisis: The South China Sea Conflict Chapter 11. ASEAN’s Vision 2025: A Fourth Reinvention? Index About the Author