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Jakarta Post

ASEAN must nurture transformative trait

Without hesitation: ASEAN has mattered

Marty Natalegawa (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Thu, July 20, 2017

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ASEAN must nurture transformative trait

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ithout hesitation: ASEAN has mattered. Absent ASEAN, countries in Southeast Asia could have continued to be encumbered by deep divisions, distrust and animosity.

Without ASEAN, countries of Southeast Asia could remain pawns in the proxy rivalries of extra-regional major powers.

And a Southeast Asia without ASEAN could have only too easily followed cycles of conflicts-underdevelopment-political upheavals.

Challenges to ASEAN’s unity have been well reported. Yet ASEAN has demonstrated its resilience. Ultimately, ASEAN has proven indispensable.

ASEAN’s contributions have been nothing less than transformative. “Strategic trust” has replaced the trust deficits once common in relations among countries of Southeast Asia.

ASEAN “centrality” in the wider region’s political-security and economic architecture-building has usurped the vision of an inconsequential Southeast Asia locked in divisive major power rivalries.

And optimism of economic promise abound in contrast to the challenges of decades past. In keeping with its people-centered promise, ASEAN has taken up respect for, and promotion of, human rights and democratic principles as key goals.

Yet — as we mark ASEAN’s 50th year — is ASEAN equipped to seize the opportunities and address the challenges stemming from a world marked by constant, ever accelerating change? A world where the distinction between national-regional-global issues are becoming ever more fragile; where issues on the one hand demand partnership, and on the other, of a political climate marked by populist anti-globalization, anti-regionalism mind-sets?

How would ASEAN deliver on its centrality in a world marked by never-ending tectonic geopolitical and geo-economic shifts?

ASEAN needs to consolidate and secure aspects of its cooperation that have worked. Central is the continued pursuit of the three-pillar ASEAN Community, as in the ASEAN Vision 2025.

However, ASEAN must remain true to its transformative character. A “business-as-usual” ASEAN runs the risk of irrelevance and inertia.

ASEAN has been of the most relevance when it has had the courage to be transformative — to initiate — and to have the diplomatic perseverance and tenacity to see these initiatives through.

Several landmark decisions remind us of its transformative contributions: the 1976 Treaty of Amity and Cooperation; the decisions to expand its membership beyond the founding member states; the decision to launch the ASEAN Community-building; and the initiative to set up the East Asia Summit (EAS) with participation beyond the ASEAN Plus Three; also ASEAN’s contribution in transforming the region’s economic architecture.

In all these instances, ASEAN was not constrained by what was then possible; nor was it consumed by day-to-day challenges.

Rather, it adopted a forward-looking outlook — taking the region not only as it is, rather how it could, or indeed, how it should be.

Consequently, ASEAN has had meaningful transformative impacts.

And Indonesia was at the forefront. Constantly seeking to break new grounds; persevering when doubts have to be overcome; working to cultivate common ownership in the ASEAN project by all its member states — and earning their support of its initiatives.

ASEAN must constantly nurture and sharpen its “transformative” trait. It has fundamental interests to ensure that changes are in keeping with its common interest.

Thus ASEAN needs to secure a “dynamic equilibrium” for the wider region — the absence of preponderant power through the robust and binding norms and principles that speak to the common interest on security and prosperity as “public goods” — emphasis on the “dynamics” of power rather than “balance” of power; to develop an effective and timely crisis management capacity, in particular the enhanced utilization of the EAS; and to put into effect the commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes among EAS countries as provided for in the 2011 Bali Principles.

Centrality and relevance must be earned, manifested by the power of ideas and initiatives and diplomatic heft to see them through. And it must have trust in the very institutions and modalities it has created by utilizing them though state practice, not least in conflict prevention and resolution.

ASEAN unity has been a prerequisite to decades of achievements. It must continue to be able to rally around some key and strategic objectives: The maintenance and promotion of peace and stability; its prosperity and adherence to human rights and democratic principles. Such basic “goals-that-bind” ASEAN is reflected in the three-pillar ASEAN Community project.

ASEAN must continue to manifest such unifying goals: “waging” peace, prosperity and democracy. ASEAN must also recognize the “connectivity” between these aims and purposes. ASEAN unity and cohesion must be constantly nurtured, tested even, by concrete policy initiatives in the three key areas identified above.

The challenge to ASEAN’s relevance lies as much on neglect and inertia as on overt divisions on policy initiatives.

The past has seen ASEAN adept and agile in managing its diversity. The ASEAN project has never assumed member states’ uniform foreign policy outlook. Instead, member states have honed a fine equilibrium and synergy between the demands at the national, regional and global levels to ensure that they complement one another.

Thus, the Bali Concord II that launched the three-pillar ASEAN Community and the Bali Concord III on an ASEAN speaking with one voice on global issues of common concern — are deliberate efforts to achieve such synergies.

The past 50 years is replete with examples when ASEAN unity and cohesion have been tested. However, member states have continued to have steadfast belief in diplomacy.

Hence ASEAN must continue to develop and nurture the quality that has served it well, of “cooperative partnership.”

Current conditions provide member states with unique opportunity to provide a much needed alternative narrative in inter-state relations: of cooperative partnership and leadership. A sustained belief in diplomacy especially when disagreements loom; and of regionalism as well as of multilateralism to address issues that defy national solutions alone.

Nationalism, regionalism and globalism can be anchored on the “win-win” principles of mutual respect and mutual benefits.

In the 21st century world, the idea of a single country “winning” through the pursuit of its interests, cannot be sustained.

The past five decades illustrates what can be achieved if Southeast Asian countries were to consistently pursue such cooperative leadership and partnership mind-sets. ASEAN member states must not take such traits for granted

There cannot be “a la carte regionalism” in ASEAN. The ASEAN project is only as strong as its weakest link.

It is a source of deep encouragement that ASEAN today speaks with eloquence and regularity of its people-centric and people-relevant outlook. However ASEAN must seek a sense of ownership and participation from its populace.

There is an urgent need to deliver on its democratic principles as well as protection and promotion of human rights. The region’s democratic architecture must be secured.

Indonesia must continue to lead by deeds and examples — and by the strength of its diplomacy.
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The writer was Indonesian foreign minister from 2009 to 2014. The above are excerpts from his presentation at the conference of “ASEAN 50: Strengthening cooperation and inclusiveness” held by The Jakarta Post, Bank Indonesia and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies on July 19.

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