Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): Cooperation Problems on Human Rights

Abstract

Though the original focus of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was primarily economic cooperation, the adoption of the ASEAN charter in November 2007 officially included cooperation on human rights. This article examines three hypotheses to determine the causes of cooperation problems: regime type, non-interference policy, and absence of an enforcement mechanism in the ASEAN charter. The article argues that regime type is important but it is neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition; the non-interference policy is necessary but not sufficient; and it is the absence of an enforcement mechanism in the ASEAN charter that causes cooperation problems on human rights.

Acknowledgements

I thank Aaron M. Hoffman for his comments and feedback on the initial version of the article, and Hoineilhing Sitlhou for her comments on the structure of the article. I am also grateful to the three anonymous referees for their critical comments and feedback, and finally to the editorial board of Strategic Analysis for their editorial help.

Notes

1. C. Lipson, ‘International Cooperation in Economic and Security Affairs’, World Politics, 37(1), 1984, p. 2.

2. M. Svolik, ‘Lies, Defection, and the Pattern of International Cooperation’, American Journal of Political Science, 50(4), 2006, p. 909.

3. E.M. Hafner-Burton, ‘Trading Human Rights: How Preferential Trade Agreements Influence Government Repression’, International Organization, 59(3), 2005, p. 624.

4. ‘Chair's Statement of the 18th ASEAN Summit’, at http://www.aseansec.org/Statement_18th_ASEANSummit.pdf (accessed May 9, 2011).

5. ‘Joint Communiqué of the 43rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting Enhanced Efforts towards the ASEAN Community: From Vision to Action’, at http://www.aseansec.org/24899.htm (accessed February 18, 2011).

6. L. Buszynski, ‘ASEAN's New Challenges’, Pacific Affairs, 70(4), 1997–1998, p. 558.

7. D.B.H. Denoon and E. Colbert, ‘Challenges for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’, Pacific Affairs, 71(4), 1998–1999, pp. 505–523.

8. Buszynski, ‘ASEAN's New Challenges’.

9. J. Ravenhill, ‘Economic Cooperation in Southeast Asia: Changing Incentives’, Asian Survey, 35(9), 1995, pp. 850–866.

10. A. Hussey, ‘Regional Development and Cooperation through Asean’, Geographical Review, 81(1), 1991, pp. 87–98.

11. Denoon and Colbert, ‘Challenges for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’, p. 510.

12. ‘Burma Will Not Take Asean Chair’, at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4715283.stm (accessed April 23, 2011).

13. ‘Burma Gives in and Skips Asean Chairmanship’, at http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/376d4422-fdb2-11d9-a289-00000e2511c8.html#axzz1MAIlBrpK (accessed April 23, 2011).

14. ‘Human Rights Basics’, at http://www.amnestyusa.org/research/human-rights-basics (accessed April 24, 2011).

15. ‘Promoting and Protecting Human Rights in ASEAN’, at http://www.asean.org/HLP-OtherDoc-2.pdf (accessed March 11, 2011).

16. L.T. Huong, ‘Many Faces and One Identity? ASEAN in the Case of Human Rights Regime’, Asia-Pacific Journal of Social Sciences, 1, 2010, p. 59.

17.Ibid.

18. ‘Burma: Army Should Act to End Abuses’, at http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/03/24/burma-army-should-act-end-abuses (accessed May 4, 2011).

19. ‘ASEAN Member States’, at http://www.asean.org/18619.htm (accessed February 17, 2011).

20. ‘CIA World Factbook’, at https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/ (accessed February 18, 2011).

21. ‘Freedom in the World Comparative and Historical Data: Country Ratings and Status’, at http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=439 (accessed March 25, 2011).

22. Denoon and Colbert, ‘Challenges for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’, p. 510.

23. Buszynski, ‘ASEANS New Challenges’, p. 556.

24. Ibid., pp. 556–557.

25. Challenges Facing The ASEAN Peoples: A Report of the Second ASEAN People's Assembly, ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International, Jakarta, 2003, pp. 110–112.

26. ‘10 Facts about ASEAN Human Rights Cooperation’, at http://www.asean.org/HLP-OtherDoc-1.pdf (accessed August 12, 2011).

27. H. Katsumata, ‘Why Is Asean Diplomacy Changing? From “Non-Interference” to “Open and Frank Discussions”’, Asian Survey, 44(2), 2004, p. 243.

28. R. Katanyuu, ‘Beyond Non-Interference in ASEAN: The Association's Role in Myanmar's National Reconciliation and Democratization’, Asian Survey, 46(6), 2006, p. 826.

29. Denoon and Colbert, ‘Challenges for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’, p. 506.

30. ‘Indonesia Criticizes Military-ruled Myanmar’, at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/7/21/apworld/20090721185924&sec=apworld (accessed February 17, 2011).

31. ‘Philippines Urges Burma to Protect Human Rights’, at http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=15427 (accessed February 18, 2011).

32. Z.H. Ahmad and B. Ghoshal, ‘The Political Future of ASEAN after the Asian Crisis’, International Affairs, 75(4), 1999, p. 769.

33. ‘Terms of Reference of ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights’, at http://www.aseansec.org/DOC-TOR-AHRB.pdf (accessed April 19, 2011).

34. ‘New Regional Body Will Help Protect Human Rights in South-East Asia’, at http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=31547&Cr=human+rights&Cr1 (accessed April 19, 2011).

35. M. Caballero-Anthony, ‘The ASEAN Charter: An Opportunity Missed or One that Cannot Be Missed?’, Southeast Asian Affairs, 2008, p. 77.

36. ‘Indonesia Puts the Spotlight on Human Rights as ASEAN Chair’, at http://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/Indonesia-Wants-to-Make-Human-Rights-a-Priority-for-ASEAN-113065974.html (accessed February 17, 2011).

37. E. Neumayer, ‘Do International Human Rights Treaties Improve Respect for Human Rights?’, Journal of Conflict Resolution, 49(6), 2005, p. 926.

38. Ibid., p. 927.

39. ‘World Report 2011: Burma’, at http://www.hrw.org/en/world-report-2011/burma (accessed April 26, 2011).

40. Y. Ginbar, ‘Human Rights in ASEAN—Setting Sail or Treading Water?’, Human Rights Law Review, 10(3), 2010, p. 513.

41. J. Von Stein, ‘Do Treaties Constrain or Screen? Selection Bias and Treaty Compliance’, American Political Science Review, 99(4), 2005, p. 612.

42. Ibid.

43. Nehginpao Kipgen, ‘What Fails ASEAN?’, Korea Times, Seoul, March 11, 2009, p. 6.

44. S. McCarthy, ‘Burma and ASEAN: Estranged Bedfellows’, Asian Survey, 48(6), 2008, p. 923.

45. J. Arendshorst, ‘The Dilemma of Non-Interference: Myanmar, Human Rights, and the ASEAN Charter’, Northwestern Journal of International Human Rights, 8(1), 2009, p. 114.

46. S. Linton, ‘ASEAN States, Their Reservations to Human Rights Treaties and the Proposed ASEAN Commission on Women and Children’, Human Rights Quarterly, 30(2), 2008, p. 490.

47. McCarthy, ‘Burma and ASEAN’, pp. 921–922.

48. ‘Chair's Statement of the 18th ASEAN Summit’.