Great powers, ASEAN, and security: reason for optimism?

Abstract

The positive role that external powers can play in the creation and maintenance of security in regions has long been ignored; external interference is generally perceived as detrimental to the ability of a group of states to function as a community. However, this paper argues that in the case of ASEAN, the presence of external actors allows the group to function as a community that also provides and ensures security. This paper furthers the debate regarding ASEAN's security functions. With international attention focused on the Asia-Pacific, there is a need to understand the context in which security is maintained in Southeast Asia.

Keywords:

• ASEAN
• security
• identity
• great powers
• community

Acknowledgements

The paper was first presented at the ISA-APR conference, Brisbane 2011, and had been amended in light of audience comments. With thanks to Hiro Katasumata for his assistance in every stage of the paper's development and to Alan Cromartie who read and commented on the paper, I also acknowledge that the development of the paper was made possible through the Leverhulme Trust's Major Research Programme ‘The Liberal Way of War’.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.