2nd DODAI

2nd Dialogue on Democracy and ASEAN Integration

Understanding Democracy in the Context of ASEAN Integration

15-16 November 2011

Edsa Shangri-la Hotel, Mandaluyong City

Overview

ASEAN continues to play a very significant role not only in East Asia but also in the larger Asia-Pacific region. The growth and success of ASEAN in terms of identifying for itself the paths that it will take has been embodied in the numerous documents that steered the Association throughout the years. Many of the documents it has produced throughout the years have shown how ASEAN has responded to the developments in the regional and international arena, as well as created new regional values and norms that are recognized both by ASEAN Member States and Partners, and the international community as well.

Many of ASEAN’s goals and aspirations to become a regional community are articulated in these ASEAN documents, many of which have become a fundamental source of legitimacy for the courses of action the Association has taken in the past years. Especially in light of various political, economic and socio-cultural developments occurring within and outside the region, ASEAN has embarked on an organizational and normative change and adopted many important and milestone documents which have proved critical in charting the road towards an ASEAN Community. As such, these documents attest to ASEAN’s continuing commitment to keep abreast with the needs and challenges of a changing regional and international landscape while maintaining its unique brand of regionalism.

A crucial concept that has been central in the principles of the ASEAN documents following the Bali Concord II adopted in October 2003 is democracy. In the Bali Concord II, for instance, democracy is found in the provision stating the adoption of the framework for an ASEAN Community (particularly the framework for an ASEAN Security Community). Subsequent ASEAN documents have also included the concept of democracy as an important principle that should be nurtured and cherished by ASEAN Member-States. For instance, the recognition of the importance of the rule of law, good governance, respect for and promotion and protection of human rights and other fundamental freedoms are openly echoed in ASEAN documents especially in the ASEAN Charter. Such principles which have strong democratic undertones imply the increasing importance of democracy in the region. However, while the concept is largely present in these documents, there is still little shared understanding of what democracy is particularly in the context of these documents. Is democracy considered as an important factor in establishing an ASEAN Community as seen in the documents, or is it just utilized for its rhetorical utility? Understanding democracy and how they are viewed as texts in various ASEAN documents will help clarify issues relating to democracy in Southeast Asia, and may serve as a bridge to connect democracy on paper to democracy on the ground.

This year’s Dialogue aims to answer the following questions:

· How is the concept of democracy viewed in the document/s?

· How is democracy and democratic values understood in the context of ASEAN integration as seen in the document/s?

· What is/are the reason/s behind the inclusion of democracy and democratic principle/s and value/s in the document/s? Is it/Are they necessary? Why? Why not?

· Are democracy and democratic principles and values relevant to ASEAN integration as expressed in these documents?