The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is the largest interstate political and economic organization in the region. Its tasks include solving many issues in various fields of activity at the intergovernmental level. At the same time, over the years of its existence, the organization has significantly transformed and undergone changes. Let's define what the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is and find out the reasons for its creation.
History of Creation
First of all, let's dwell on the events that preceded the formation of ASEAN.
Prerequisites for the integration of countries in the region began to appear after the end of World War II and their independence. But initially these processes were more of a military-political, rather than economic, nature. This was due to the fact that the former metropolises, although they granted independence to their colonies, at the same time tried not to lose political influence in the region and prevent the establishment of communist regimes in Indochina.
The result of these aspirations was the emergence in1955-1956 of the SEATO military-political bloc, which provided for the provision of collective protection in the region. The organization included the following states: Thailand, Philippines, Pakistan, Australia, USA, France, Great Britain. In addition, the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Vietnam closely cooperated with the bloc. But this military-political union did not last long. Initially, a number of countries left it, and in 1977 it was finally abolished. The reason was the decreasing interest of the former metropolises in the affairs of the region, the defeat of the United States in the war in Indochina, as well as the establishment of communist regimes in a number of states.
It became clear that the unification on a military-political basis is short-lived and is of a momentary nature. The countries of the region needed closer economic integration.
The initial steps towards this were taken in 1961, when the ASA was formed. It included the state of the Philippines, the federation of Malaysia and Thailand. But still, initially this economic union was of secondary importance in relation to SEATO.
ASEAN Education
The leadership of the ASA countries and other states of the region understood that economic cooperation should expand both territorially and qualitatively. To this end, in 1967, in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, an agreement was signed, called the ASEAN Declaration. Its signatories were, in addition to representatives of the ASA countries, authorized delegates representing the state of Singapore and Indonesia. It was these five countries that stood at the origins of ASEAN.
1967 is considered the moment whenwhich the Association of Southeast Asian Nations began to function.
Goals of the organization
It's time to find out what goals the Association of Southeast Asian Nations pursued at the time of its formation. They were formulated in the above ASEAN Declaration.
The main goals of the organization were to accelerate the dynamics of economic development of its members, integration between them and interaction in various fields of activity, establishing peace in the region, increasing trade turnover within the Association.
Each of these goals was aimed at achieving a global idea - the establishment of prosperity in the region.
ASEAN Members
To date, 10 countries include the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The composition of the organization is formed from the following members:
- State of Thailand;
- Malaysia federation;
- country Philippines;
- country Indonesia;
- city-state of Singapore;
- Sultanate of Brunei;
- Vietnam (NRT);
- Laos (Lao PDR);
- Union of Myanmar;
- Cambodia.
The first five of these countries were the founders of ASEAN. The rest have flown into the organization throughout its history.
ASEAN expansion
The Sultanate of Brunei, Vietnam, the country of Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia were included in ASEAN in subsequent years. The states of the region were increasingly drawn into mutual integration.
StateBrunei became the first country in the region to join the five founding members of ASEAN. It happened in 1984, that is, almost immediately after the country gained independence from the UK.
But the accession of Brunei had a single character. In the mid-second half of the 90s, several countries joined ASEAN at once, and this already indicated a certain trend and prestige of membership in the organization.
In 1995, Vietnam became a member of ASEAN, a country whose government was based on Marxist ideology. It should be noted that before that, ASEAN included only countries that took the Western model as the basis for development. The entry into the organization of the communist state testified to the deepening of integration processes in the region and the priority of economic cooperation over political differences.
In 1997, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations added two members at once. They were Laos and Myanmar. The first one is also a country that has chosen the communist type of development.
At the same time, Cambodia was supposed to join the organization, but due to political turmoil, this was postponed to 1999. However, in 1999 everything went smoothly, and the state became the tenth member of ASEAN.
Position of observers are Papua New Guinea and DR East Timor. In addition, in 2011 East Timor submitted a formal application for full membership in the organization. While this application is pending.
Controls
Let's look at the governance structure of ASEAN.
Superiorthe body of the Association is the summit of the heads of states of its members. Since 2001, it has been held annually, and until that time, meetings were organized once every three years. In addition, cooperation takes place in the format of meetings of representatives of the ministries of foreign affairs of the participating countries. They are also held annually. Recently, meetings of representatives of other ministries, in particular agriculture and the economy, have become increasingly frequent.
The current management of ASEAN affairs is entrusted to the Secretariat of the organization, located in the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta. The head of this body is the Secretary General. In addition, ASEAN has almost three dozen specialized committees and more than a hundred working groups.
ASEAN Activities
Let's consider the main activities of this organization.
Currently, the fundamental document, which is taken as a basis for determining the overall strategic development of the organization and relationships within it, is an agreement signed in Bali by delegates of the participating countries.
Since 1977, an agreement on simplified trade between the states of the region began to operate. The integration of the countries of Southeast Asia in the economy was consolidated in 1992 by the creation of a regional free trade area, called AFTA. This is considered by many experts to be the main achievement of ASEAN. At this stage, the Association, as a subject of international law, is working on concluding free trade agreements with China, India, the Commonwe alth of Australia, NewZealand, Japan, Republic of Korea and several other countries.
In the early 1990s, the threat of economic and political dominance of the United States in the region became especially significant. Malaysia tried to prevent this. The country proposed to create a Council, which, in addition to the ASEAN states, would include the PRC, the Republic of Korea and Japan. This organization was supposed to protect regional interests. But the project failed to materialize, as it met with stubborn resistance from the United States and Japan.
However, China, Korea and Japan still managed to attract to the activities of the Association. For this purpose, the ASEAN Plus Three organization was established in 1997.
Another important program is the task of ensuring security and political stability in the region. Since 1994, a forum on security issues, called the ARF, began to work. However, the members of the organization did not want to turn ASEAN into a military bloc. In 1995, they signed an agreement that recognized Southeast Asia as a region free of nuclear weapons.
The organization is also actively addressing environmental issues.
Prospects for development
Further economic integration of the states of the region, as well as deepening cooperation with other countries of the Asia-Pacific region is a priority for ASEAN in the future. This program is intended to be implemented by the ASEAN Common Community, founded in 2015.
Another task for the organization in the near future– overcoming the gap in economic development between its members. Thailand, the country of Singapore and Malaysia in economic terms today are ahead of other states in the region. By 2020, it is planned to significantly reduce this gap.
Meaning of organization
The significance of ASEAN for the development of the countries of Southeast Asia is very great. Since the establishment of the Association, one of the most backward regions of Asia has joined the ranks of the advanced not only on the continent, but also in the world. In addition, the number of armed conflicts in the region has significantly decreased. The development of economic ties between members of the Association contributes to their prosperity.
The organization plans to achieve even more significant peaks.
