Association+of+Southeast+Asian+Nations


 * History **

ASEAN was formed on August 8, 1967 with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration, otherwise known as the Bangkok Declaration, in Bangkok, Thailand. It’s founding member states were Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines. Since its creation, five states (Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia) have been inducted into ASEAN. ASEAN was established to promote peaceful relations, economic growth, social progress and cultural development in Southeast Asia. For more information on the history of the ASEAN, go to [].


 * Member States **

The most dominant states in ASEAN are most likely Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand due to the relative economic prosperity of these five states and they were the founding member states of ASEAN. Vietnam is also considered to be a major ASEAN power due to its large economy.


 * Purposes/Goals/Objectives **

The aims and purposes of ASEAN are as follows: 1) To accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region through joint endeavours in the spirit of equality and partnership in order to strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian Nations; 2) To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries of the region and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter; 3) To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interest in the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields; 4) To provide assistance to each other in the form of training and research facilities in the educational, professional, technical and administrative spheres; 5)To collaborate more effectively for the greater utilisation of their agriculture and industries, the expansion of their trade, including the study of the problems of international commodity trade, the improvement of their transportation and communications facilities and the raising of the living standards of their peoples; 6) To promote Southeast Asian studies; and 7) To maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and regional organisations with similar aims and purposes, and explore all avenues for even closer cooperation among themselves. For extended information on the goals and objectives of the ASEAN, go to the official ASEAN website: [].


 * Structure **

Each member state of ASEAN has a ASEAN Sector Ministerial Body, whose duty it is function in accordance with their respective established mandates, implement the agreements and decisions of the ASEAN Summit under their respective purview, strengthen cooperation in their respective fields in support of ASEAN integration and community building, and submit reports and recommendations to their respective Community Councils. The ASEAN Sector Ministerial Body from each state meets at the proposed ASEAN Summit to discuss and debate possible solutions to the problems facing the Southeast Asian region.

Other subdivisions of ASEAN include the ASEAN Secretariat, the ASEAN Chair, and the ASEAN Summit. The basic function of the ASEAN Secretariat, which comprises of the ASEAN Secretary-General and his subsequent staff, is to provide for greater efficiency in the coordination of ASEAN organs and for more effective implementation of ASEAN projects and activities. The ASEAN Chair rotates annually based upon the alphabetical of the (English) names of member states. A member state assuming the Chairmanship shall chair the ASEAN Summit and related summits, the ASEAN Coordinating Council, the three ASEAN Community Councils, relevant ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies and senior officials, and the Committee of Permanent Representatives. The ASEAN Summit takes place once or twice a year in the ASEAN chair. At the summit, the member states discuss and debate possible solutions to the problems facing the Southeast Asian region at that point in time.

ASEAN has also developed beneficial relations with many states in the Pacific, South Asia, East Asia, and the EU. The ASEAN Plus Three constitutes the member states of ASEAN as well as China, Japan, and South Korea. The East Asia Summit includes the members of ASEAN Plus Three in addition to India, Russia, Australia, and New Zealand. For further information on the structure of the ASEAN, consult the ASEAN charter, found online at: [].




 * Advantages of Joining **

There are many advantages of joining the ASEAN. Much economic cooperation and trade exists between ASEAN member states, which aids the economies of those states. ASEAN membership also eases relations with all ASEAN member states and any states with which ASEAN has developed beneficial relations. ASEAN promotes peace, economic growth, social progress and cultural development in its member states in the region of Southeast Asia.


 * Disadvantages of Joining **

A disadvantage of joining ASEAN is the heavy encouragement to implement ASEAN ideals and resolutions into one’s own state. These resolutions may challenge a member state’s processes or manners of doing certain activities. Another disadvantage is that of ASEAN’s current disagreement with the People’s Republic of China over its territory in the South China Sea. If a candidate state for ASEAN wishes not to betray China in any way, it may not look favorably upon joining ASEAN for fear of retaliation by the Chinese government or businesses. Similarly, if a candidate state did not wish to actively cooperate with another state with which it had previously had conflict, it may not be in the best interest of that state to join ASEAN.


 * Effects on Local Diversity **

The organization of ASEAN challenges local diversity by unifying the Southeast Asian region and sharing certain products and ideals, which could homogenize the entire region as one singular culture rather than a collaboration of differing cultures. However, ASEAN does encourage its member states to increase protection of minority cultures, languages, and religions to preserve the local diversity of their own states.

(2009). About ASEAN. Retrieved from: [|__http://www.aseansec.org/about_ASEAN.html__].

ASEAN Secretariat (2008). The ASEAN Charter. Retrieved from: [|__http://www.aseansec.org/publications/ASEAN-Charter.pdf__].