Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)| Class 12 Political Science

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In this article, we’ll learn about the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and how it has worked for the country.

Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)

ASEAN is a group of countries in Southeast Asia that work together to make life better for everyone. They help each other out in lots of ways, like with the economy, politics, security, education, and culture.

Before, this part of Asia went through a lot because of colonialism. Different countries, like European ones and Japan, controlled these places before and during World War II.

Primary Goals of ASEAN

The Bandung Conference and the Non-Aligned Movement didn’t do much to set up rules for working together in Asia and the Third World. But in 1967, five countries – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand – decided to join hands and form ASEAN by signing the Bangkok Declaration.

• ASEAN had two main goals: to help the economy grow faster and to make sure there’s peace and stability in the region based on the rules of the United Nations.
• Later on, more countries like Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar (Burma), and Cambodia also became part of ASEAN, making it a group of ten nations.
• ASEAN wants to set up some big organizations that can make decisions for everyone. The ‘ASEAN Way’ is how they like to work together – it’s all about being friendly, not fighting, and helping each other out.
• The national sovereignty of each member country is really important to ASEAN. It is growing its economy super fast, making it one of the fastest-growing regions in the world.

Three Pillars of ASEAN

1. ASEAN Security Community

The idea behind the ASEAN Security Community is to make sure that any disputes between countries don’t turn into fights. ASEAN members have agreed to keep the peace, work together, not interfere in each other’s affairs, and respect each other’s rights.

The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), created in 1994, is responsible for coordinating security and foreign policies among member countries.

2. ASEAN Economic Community

ASEAN focuses a lot on business and trade. Even though its economy isn’t as big as others, it still has a big impact in the region and beyond.

The goal of the ASEAN Economic Community is to create a common market and production base among member countries and to boost social and economic development in the region.

They also want to improve the way they settle economic disputes. Plus, they’ve set up a Free Trade Area (FTA) for investment, labor, and services. The US and China are working on free trade deals with ASEAN.

3. ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community

ASEAN is becoming a big deal in the region and the world. They have big plans for the future, called Vision 2020, which aims to make ASEAN more involved internationally and outward-looking.

What is the ASEAN 2020 Vision?

The ASEAN Vision 2020 was agreed upon by member countries in 1997 in Kuala Lumpur. Here are the key points:

• Peace and Conflict Resolution: All member nations pledged to work towards a more peaceful region and resolve conflicts through diplomacy. ASEAN also played a role in mediating the Cambodian conflict.
• Nuclear-Free Zone: ASEAN committed to making the region free from nuclear weapons to ensure peace and stability.
• Economic Cooperation: The organization aimed to boost economic cooperation through various development strategies, focusing on sustainable and fair growth.
• Global Competitiveness: To enhance competitiveness, ASEAN planned to utilize multilateral trade agreements to expand trade. Vision 2020 aimed to create a successful, stable, and competitive economic zone with free flow of goods, services, and capital.
• Equal Opportunities: ASEAN sought to provide equal opportunities for people in the region, regardless of gender, race, religion, language, or cultural background.
• Environmental Stewardship: Vision 2020 emphasized environmental protection and sustainable development among member nations.

Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)- FAQs

What is ASEAN?

ASEAN stands for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising ten Southeast Asian countries.

What are the member countries of ASEAN?

The member countries of ASEAN are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

What is the main purpose of ASEAN?

The main purpose of ASEAN is to promote intergovernmental cooperation and facilitate economic, political, security, military, educational, and sociocultural integration among its members and other Asian countries.

How was ASEAN formed?

ASEAN was formed on August 8, 1967, with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

What are the primary goals of ASEAN?

The primary goals of ASEAN are to accelerate economic growth, promote social progress, and enhance cultural development among its member countries.