Voices of ASEAN: What Does ASEAN Mean to ASEAN Peoples?

Abstract

The year 2017 marks 50 years since the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was formed under the Bangkok Declaration on 8 August 1967. The five founding members, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, envisioned political and economic cooperation that would promote stability and prosperity for each country and ultimately a sense of shared culture and identity for the region as a whole. Over the past 50 years, the association has not only withstood the pressures of deep transformations resulting from the significant changes in the region but has in fact doubled in size to its current 10 members by accepting new members, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Viet Nam. With the passing of a half-century of working together, a key issue now revolves around the question of shared identity and belonging. The region is home to many cultures and languages as well as great disparities in the member states’ economies and levels of development. ASEAN has provided a platform for continuous discussion between leaders, which has helped the region address these disparities and adapt to the constantly changing circumstances. But what do the people of ASEAN think about ASEAN? What are their hopes and expectations for ASEAN as a region? Are they aware of how ASEAN institutions work on their behalf? And are ASEAN programmes and initiatives addressing the key concerns of ASEAN people?