ASEAN's norm adherence and its unintended consequences in HADR and SAR operations

Abstract

This paper examines the effects and expressions of norm compliance in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the ‘unintended consequences’ arising from such compliance. This is done through an analysis of ASEAN's responses in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) efforts in the Typhoon Haiyan disaster and in the search for missing flight MH370. It argues that the lethargic ASEAN responses in the Haiyan disaster and the uncoordinated search efforts for missing flight MH370 are unintended outcomes arising from norm adherence specifically to the norms of ‘respect for sovereignty’ and ‘consensual decision-making’ which constrained the range of ASEAN responses.

Keywords:

• ASEAN norms
• Typhoon Haiyan
• MH370
• HADR
• SAR operations

Acknowledgments

The author expresses his gratitude to the two anonymous reviewers and his colleagues – Pascal Vennesson, Alan Chong, Ralf Emmers and Sarah Teo for their comments on the paper. Any errors are his own.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. See Collins (2013: 132–217) for a comprehensive overview of ASEAN HADR mechanisms.

2. Besides the ‘consensual seeking’ and ‘respect for sovereignty’ norms, the norms of non-interference, renunciation of the use of force and the threat of force and peaceful settlement of disputes form the ‘ASEAN Way’ (Rattanasevee 2014: 115).

3. A review of the Chairman's Statements from 2010 to 2014 (the 16th–24th ASEAN summits 2010, 2014) showed repeated references to disaster situations and HADR efforts.

4. For example, the 16th ASEAN summit contained only one point (ASEAN Summit 2010: para 33) on HADR efforts; this is contrasted with the 20th ASEAN Chairman Statement which had five separate points (points 29, 45, 60, 61 and 62) (ASEAN Summit 2012) reflecting the increased attention paid to HADR cooperation and initiatives.