To criticize or not to criticize?
In an IRFS 134 class debate, Team Superpower believes in the proposition that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should not be criticized as a regional organization.
Regionalism has been of great importance in terms of international relations (IR) theory. Regional integration is an attempt to realize mutual gains from cooperation within a group of self-motivated states in an anarchic international system. In order to attain a successful regional cohesion, the states have to overcome collective action problems that are endemic to international cooperation.
The speaker from the affirmative side has stated that:
In line with the points given, ever since the establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1967, its member states have had the chance to progress more and more through the years. A period of peace, development and geopolitical stability ensued[1].
"Not to mention ASEAN as an initiator of various inter-region cooperation, such as the ASEAN-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the forum for East Asia and North America." - Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda
Let us take a look at some of its accomplishments:
However, just like any other organization, ASEAN is not without flaws (which, for undisclosed reasons, will not be discussed here). But let us note that we do not sacrifice the good things for the bad. Criticism is inevitable, but not to the point of discrediting the organization. There is good in ASEAN. Regionalism is the way forward.
[1] What are ASEAN's biggest accomplishments? Retrieved March 21, 2016 from Quora. https://www.quora.com/What-are-ASEANs-biggest-accomplishments
[2] Mahbubani, K., Severino, R. ASEAN: The Way Forward. Retrieved March 21, 2016 from McKinsey & Company. http://www.mckinsey.com/industries/public-sector/our-insights/asean-the-way-forward
[3] Ibid.
Regionalism has been of great importance in terms of international relations (IR) theory. Regional integration is an attempt to realize mutual gains from cooperation within a group of self-motivated states in an anarchic international system. In order to attain a successful regional cohesion, the states have to overcome collective action problems that are endemic to international cooperation.
The speaker from the affirmative side has stated that:
- First, ASEAN has gradually developed feasible enforcement mechanisms by intensifying the centralized nature of the regional organisation.
- Second point is that ASEAN features far greater diversity in terms of economic development as it is far more open now than Europe as it was in the 1950s. It is because ASEAN members are closely integrated with global markets by trade as well as multinational networks.
In line with the points given, ever since the establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1967, its member states have had the chance to progress more and more through the years. A period of peace, development and geopolitical stability ensued[1].
"Not to mention ASEAN as an initiator of various inter-region cooperation, such as the ASEAN-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the forum for East Asia and North America." - Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda
Let us take a look at some of its accomplishments:
- First, it cultivated a culture of “musyawarah and mufakat” (“consultation and consensus” in Indonesian). This is now widely known as the “ASEAN way” and has helped nations such as Myanmar achieve a peaceful transition from decades of harsh military rule compared to nations in similar situations in other regions such as Syria who were riven by conflict.[2]
- If ASEAN were a single country, it’s economy would be ranked as the seventh-largest in the world (with a combined GDP of $2.4 trillion in 2013)
- ASEAN’s increased GDP growth may be attributed to the increase of labor productivity and labor-force expansion of its member states – almost 60 percent of total growth since 1990 has come from the efficiency of manufacturing, retail, telecommunications, and transportation sectors.
- ASEAN has been promoting geopolitical collaboration among major powers—not just in Southeast Asia but throughout the Asia–Pacific region.[3]
However, just like any other organization, ASEAN is not without flaws (which, for undisclosed reasons, will not be discussed here). But let us note that we do not sacrifice the good things for the bad. Criticism is inevitable, but not to the point of discrediting the organization. There is good in ASEAN. Regionalism is the way forward.
[1] What are ASEAN's biggest accomplishments? Retrieved March 21, 2016 from Quora. https://www.quora.com/What-are-ASEANs-biggest-accomplishments
[2] Mahbubani, K., Severino, R. ASEAN: The Way Forward. Retrieved March 21, 2016 from McKinsey & Company. http://www.mckinsey.com/industries/public-sector/our-insights/asean-the-way-forward
[3] Ibid.