Coincidentally and significantly, the two most known regional organizations in the world -- the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) -- are currently ratifying their instrumental agreements to bind and integrate their member states more, economically, politically, socially and legally.

The EU has the Lisbon Treaty up for ratification. Its 27 member states must ratify the treaty for it to be in force. Thus far, 19 member states have approved the treaty in their parliaments, except in Ireland where the treaty was subjected to a referendum because of constitutional obligations. Irish voters rejected the treaty, with 53.4 percent of voters saying "no". As a result, the treaty is technically frozen while the other member states, which have not yet approved the treaty, proceed with their ratification processes.

On the other hand, ASEAN, which will celebrate its 41st founding anniversary on Aug. 8, has the binding ASEAN Charter subject to ratification by its 10 member states.

Thus far, Myanmar became the seventh member state to ratify the ASEAN charter joining Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.

The Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand have approved the charter, but they have indicated that their ratification heavily depends on the improvement of Myanmar's human rights record. This pronouncement by the three original member states of the 40-year-old regional organization raised doubts on the fate of the charter, which is seen to be vital to the integration and cooperation processes of the region, aspiring to live up to its slogan: "One Vision, One Identity, One Community."

Undeniably, the two regional organizations aim to unite and build a community of diverse peoples into one dynamic system. The processes and effectiveness of unification or union and community building does not come about without the cooperation and sense of ownership of the peoples involved. The Irish vote pointedly stresses this.

Although these regional organizations are intergovernmental organizations, the governments in the regional blocs emanate their power from their own peoples. Without the peoples' consent and will, the acts of the governments can be rendered illegitimate, undemocratic and cannot stand for long in the unforgiving scrutiny of history.

The significance of the role of the peoples in the government cannot be ignored in the integration and cooperation processes in a regional organization. However, it is often understood that these regional organizations are composed of governments run by their own peoples through representative governments. It is assumed that an act of government reflects the will of its peoples or at least the majority of them. Most often than not, the governments have their own mind detached from the peoples' heart.

Both the EU and ASEAN point to a location, position and region on the global map. In human geography, there is a humanist's perspective of a region being a source of identification and meaning. Thus, Southeast Asia and Europe are not simply geographical units, but social constructs as well, where peoples identify themselves and create meanings for themselves.

Now, the commonalities between EU and ASEAN stop there.

The European Union is able to institutionalize formal structures that perform state's functions. Rulemaking infrastructures and institutions have been established to govern the dynamic process of European economic, political and social integration. The peoples of Europe have become EU citizens. Well, that is Europe. That is the EU.

In ASEAN, its Charter states that community building would be established in an ASEAN Community comprising the ASEAN Security Community, the ASEAN Economic Community and the Socio-Cultural Community through improved regional cooperation and integration.

Anthropologically, a community emerges when, among its peoples, there exist meaningful and patterned interactions that provide value and significance to their existence and membership in the community.

Basically, these patterned interactions among the peoples are builders of social institutions. For example, since the founding of ASEAN in 1967, patterned interactions among the leaders of member states have been the discussion of issues and opportunities for collaboration.

The regularity of interaction among member states led to the creation of the ASEAN Secretariat in 1976 to coordinate the implementation and ensure the efficiency of various ASEAN projects and programs. The ASEAN Secretariat has now become an institution.

To broaden a community, enhanced interaction among its target peoples is necessary. This can be done by bringing the target peoples together. And what bring the peoples together, are rituals and cultural presentations of other peoples. As the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Surin Pitsuwan, said, "Through culture, we can bring the peoples of ASEAN closer together."

The contact hypothesis in peace and conflict studies has shown that by bringing peoples together and in contact with each other, tends to lessen the chance of conflict. It also fosters knowledge of other peoples and heightens understanding among the peoples.

Hence, ASEAN peoples must have more opportunities to gather together. One opportunity is coming this August on the anniversary of ASEAN. Thailand will feature its dances and puppetry shows here in Jakarta on ASEAN Day.

With this opportunity, ASEAN is putting the peoples through their culture at the center stage of integration process as a community. After all, it is the peoples that comprise a community and not governments, investments nor development plans.

The writer is an intern at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta and a graduate student of International Peace Studies at University for Peace in Costa Rica and Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines. He can be reached at his blog (http://mensab.wordpress.com).

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