The Emergence, Development and Role of ASEAN: An Analysis

ASEAN can safely be termed as the most successful regional integration exercise in the developing world today. The article analyzes the role of 'State' in determining the degree of integration in ASEAN. It argues that the World Order and the role played by the contemporary major powers in the world-the US and China- determined the pace of integration for the organization historically by creating and enhancing the external threat factor during the Cold War era of bipolarity and post-Cold War era of unipolarity. ASEAN evolved with a slow pace initially however it overcame the internal conflict and problems due to external threat of communism during Cold War era. In the post-Cold War era with the emergence of a unipolar World System and the US as a sole super power it continued evolving with an enhanced speed as a vibrant and dynamic regional organization. World Order and the resultant external threat factor strengthened ASEAN remarkably.