Strengths And Weaknesses in The Operation And Efficiency Of ASEAN

ASEAN has shown the complexity of behavior due to the large differences between its members in population size and territory, economic development, political system or cultural identity. Due to this diversity and differentiation, smaller states are afraid of being forced by stronger members through by ASEAN. This is also an important basis for the formation of codes of conduct among member states, namely ASEAN Way. It is based on non-interference and consensus. All ASEAN decisions must be agreed upon. It is also not allowed to interfere in the national concerns of its members.

It is characterized by an unofficial and personal approach aimed at conflict prevention and is generally not carried out in public. Therefore, national interests are placed on the interests of the community

There are two elements involved in this concept. The first factor is the preference for informality and is not appropriate for formal cooperative organizations. This point highlights the mechanisms for federal disputes in the region.

The basic instrument for this purpose was the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia adopted in 1976.

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The agreement was originally signed by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. But now, not only all ASEAN member countries but also other countries such as Australia, China, India, Japan, United States are parties. Article 14 of that treaty provides that in order to resolve disputes through regional processes, the High Contracting Parties shall constitute, as an interim body, a High Council composed of a representative level The Ministry from each of the Contracting Parties is highly aware of the existence of disputes or situations likely to disrupt peace and peace in the region.

The second factor is consensus as a principle of collective decision-making. Consensus is distinguished from consensus in consensus that does not require the explicit consent of all members. The consensus is that member states will agree to a decision even if there is no country agreeing on it. It is a way to move forward by establishing what seems to have broad support while ensuring that collective decision against the important interests of a state can be vetoed by that state. Some say that the "ASEAN way" follows the principle of non-interference in the policies and decisions of other countries. Thus, the principle of non-interference is a significant degree of collective commitment to the survival of non-communist regimes in the region against communist intervention. It is evidence that the principle has four components. First, it does not require criticizing the actions of a member government against its population. Second, it called on members to protest against violations of the principles of other countries. Third, member governments must refuse to recognize, secure, and support opposition groups seeking to overthrow the governments of other member states. Finally, member governments are required to provide moral and material support to other governments to suppress those opposing groups.

However, at present, ASEAN has shown certain strengths and weaknesses in the operation and efficiency of ASEAN. First, the "ASEAN way" is the glue that binds countries in the regions, the regionalization process and regional integration are done in a unique way, unlike in other parts of the world. The difference is that ASEAN on the one hand upholds the principle of non-interference in each other's internal affairs, respects the national identity of member states, and on the other hand finds consensus and common voice in international affairs. As a result, the regionalization process in Southeast Asia develops gradually, creating a positive interaction between nations, societies, and economies geographically close together, enabling them to orient each other and form a unified area. This approach is a collection of institutions that include the rules, principles, rules, and policy-making processes that exist in ASEAN that researchers often call "soft institutions." These institutions are not legally binding because their basis is conventions and agreements rather than formal agreements. So the basis of ASEAN is more voluntary than legal.

ASEAN countries strive to build a political community, but they do not consolidate, maintain their autonomy. Accordingly, although the interdependence among ASEAN members has increased, they are still interested in maintaining their national identity by endorsing the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of the ASEAN members. Thus, ASEAN is the mode of action that the organization has done during the first three decades of its existence. It is possible to generalize the words "non-interference" and "consensus". On the one hand, it can be considered as a constraint, but on the other hand it can be considered as a factor by which ASEAN has succeeded. There will be nothing to say and nothing new if everything continues in that flow until 1997, when the financial crisis took place in Southeast Asia. This crisis shows that ASEAN is not able to cope with such a big challenge. At the time of the Asian financial crisis, ASEAN was not only at the turning point of its existence and development, but also on the brink of collapse and disintegration. Moreover, the main thing is that ASEAN does not have enough economic and institutional resources to deal with the crisis. Whatever the case, the first TIME ASEAN is challenged and the ASEAN way is threatened. What has helped ASEAN survive and develop has made ASEAN different from other organizations - "non-interference" and "consensus" - suddenly suspected. Many people have thought that in the late 1990s of the last century, in the face of changes in the world and region, this was the best time to change ASEAN. That means that ASEAN must abolish the principles established in the 1976 Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) signed in Bali, Indonesia. In 1998, Thai Foreign Minister Pitsuvan even proposed replacing the "no intervention" policy with a new policy called "flexible engagement."

In short, after more than four decades of existence and development, ASEAN has achieved remarkable achievements. One of the successes is that ASEAN has built a distinctive feature compared to other organizations. It is the unity of diversity embodied in the ASEAN Way. Although this method is challenging and critical, it is recognized by most countries in the region and the glue that ties them together. Moreover, the involvement of the major powers outside the region in the ASEAN forum founder, support initiatives that ASEAN launched, still demonstrates the vitality and attractiveness of ASEAN.