The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) celebrated its 40th anniversary this week. It has grown considerably since its birth: It has doubled in size and taken on new tasks. While there is justifiable pride in its progress, there is also recognition that ASEAN must evolve significantly more if it is to maintain its relevance. It is unclear, however, whether member governments are prepared to make the compromises that are necessary.
ASEAN was founded in 1967 to provide a mechanism for dialogue among nations that had exhibited considerable antagonism toward each other, yet were united in their opposition to communism. The group provided a framework for regional engagement for the countries of Southeast Asia as well as external powers.
Over time, the primary driving force for integration among member states became economic, in sharp contrast to Europe, where the push for integration was political. A curious dichotomy was that even as borders became increasingly irrelevant to economic exchange, governments insisted on maintaining their sovereign prerogatives. This resulted in operating principles — most notably decision making by consensus and noninterference in members' internal affairs — that led many to characterize the organization as a "talk shop" of little practical impact on politics.