Abstract
Over the last 40 years ASEAN has developed a set of goals and norms with regard to the conduct of regional and international relations that provide an alternative paradigm to the dominant contemporary Western liberal approach to ‘global’ governance. ASEAN’s alternative paradigm is rooted in Asia’s cultures and the region’s colonial and Cold War experiences. Using an historical institutionalist approach, the analysis details the paradigm’s central features – the importance of neutrality; sovereignty and territorial integrity; the peaceful settlement of disputes; informal, non-confrontational negotiations; and the promotion of domestic stability and social harmony – which together underscore the importance of state autonomy and non-interference in the affairs of other states. The paradigm’s influence in global affairs has increased markedly in recent years, most notably as the ASEAN-China linkage has matured and China has given its strong support to ASEAN’s approach to the conduct of international relations. This turn of events suggests that the ASEAN paradigm presents a significant challenge to Western hopes for a common approach to ‘global’ governance.
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