ASEAN CENTRALITY: HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONAL ANCHORING OF RELATIONS

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WILLIAM J. JONES

Abstract

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was formed in 1967 with the Bangkok Conference as a bulwark against the spread of Communism in Southeast Asia. In its five decades of existence ASEAN has shown itself to be a remarkably durable organization and exemplar of third world regionalism. With the closing of the Unipolar period where the United States and its Western allies held a dominant place in international affairs, a new global architecture. This new period of great power competition holds a great degree of uncertainty for ASEAN’s members. Being comprised of small and medium size states, ASEAN cannot impose its will on major powers. However, due to the de facto position of ASEAN as the only East Asian wide regional organization it stands as the central node for diplomacy. This article will demonstrate that ASEAN will continue to play a pivotal and central role in East Asian international relations.

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