ASEAN Vision 2040 Volume II: Collective Leadership, ASEAN Centrality, and Strengthening the ASEAN Institutional Ecosystem

Abstract

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been celebrated and also much criticised in recent years. Celebrations reached something ofacrestwiththe2015inaugurationoftheASEANCommunity–with economic, political-security and socio-cultural pillars1 – and the group’s 50thanniversaryin2017.Overthesedecades,ASEANhasbecome the convenor of several key forums and Summits not only for its own members but to bring together the major powers in the wider region; these include the ASEAN Regional Forum, the ASEAN Defence Ministers +8 meetings and, for leaders, the East Asia Summit. in this way, ASEAN has emerged as a central actor in the region, offering a form of leadership that belies the group’s lack of major power status. Show more