Dian Azmawati, S.IP., MA.

Socio-Cultural Diversities as a Strong Point in Building and Preserving the ASEAN

Community

Southeast Asia- Map

ASEAN

One vision, One Identity, One community

ASEAN Community

The ASEAN Leaders adopted the Declaration of ASEAN Concord II (Bali Concord) in Bali, Indonesia on Oct. 7th, 2003 to establish an ASEAN Community by 2020.

ASEAN Community will be set upon 3 (three) pillars: ASEAN Political-Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community, ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community

ASEAN Community

Declaration on The Acceleration of an ASEAN Community by 2015 was signed at the 12th ASEAN Summit on 13t January 2007 in Cebu, Phillipines.

ASEAN Community

Primary goal: to contribute to realising an ASEAN Community that is people-centered and socially responsible with a view to achieving enduring solidarity and unity among the nations and peoples of ASEAN by forging a common identity and building a caring and sharing society which is inclusive and harmonious where the well-being, livelihood, and welfare of the peoples are enhanced.

(Roadmap for an ASEAN Community 2009-2014, ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta, 2009)

ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community

The culture of regional resillience, adherence to agreed principles, spirit of cooperation, collective responsibility, to promote human and social development, respect for fundamental freedom, gender equality, the promotion nad protection of human rights, and the promotion of social justice.

Respect the different cultures, languages, and religions of the peoples of ASEAN emphasise their common values in the spirit of unity in diversity and adapt to the present realities, opportunities, and challenges.

Characteristic of ASCC

Focus on the social dimension of Narrowing the Development Gap wards bridging the development gap among Member States

Characteristics of ASCC

1. Human development2. Social welfare and protection3. Social Justice and Rights4. Ensuring Environmental Sustainability

5. Building ASEAN identity6. Narrowing the Development

Characteristics of ASCC

1. Promoting of ASEAN Awareness and a Sense of Community

2. Preservation and Promotion of ASEAN Cultural Heritage

3. Promotion of Cultural Creativity and Industry

4. Engagement with the Community

Where are we?

Building ASEAN Identity

DiversityASEAN peoples belongs to many different

ethnicities and religions – the most sensitive and inalienable of human attributes

ASEAN member states experienced different collonial regimes that for most parts have determined the shape of politics, laws, and other elements that become today’s Souteast Asian nations.

Building ASEAN Identity

Fragile relations“Southeast Asians had been interacting with one another

through trade, religion, cultural exchanges and human contact long before the West came to colonize them; but they had no experience of inter-state cooperation as modern nation-states. Partly because of the differences in their colonial legacies, partly because of the descrepancies in their perceived interests as new nations, and partly because of their recent history of conflict and continuing potential conflict, the relations among the Southeast Asian states, ....., were fragile and delicate at best.”

(Asia Europe Journal, July 2004 in Rodolfo C Severino: Southeast Asia in search of an ASEAN Community)

Building ASEAN Identity

Southeast Asia is extremely diverse in race and ethnicity, legal and political system and modes of governance, levels of economic development and approaches to development, values as well as in historical experience, culture, the practice of religion, and strategic outlook.

Southeast Asia’s peoples hardly knew one another, having been cut off and isolated from one another by colonial powers.

Building ASEAN Identity

Diversity in historical experiences, cultures, religions and strategis outlooks.

What do we have in common?

Building ASEAN Identity

IdentityAwarenessUnderstandingCommon norms to be adoptedCommon values to be shared

for easier cooperations long term

Building ASEAN Identity

ASEAN has served its members well in term of no armed conflict between nations.

ASEAN has provided a setting for the peacefull management of disputes among its members.

What can we do as ASEAN Moslem students to help shaping the ASEAN identity?

Will we just being jockied by the West? Or actively involved?

What should we do?

As an Islamic University, UMY has developed several programs to face the new challenge and actively involved in the efforts of shaping the ASCC:

1. Developing students exchange program with universities in Southeast Asia

2. Research collaborations3. Mahathir Global Peace School 4. Visiting Professor

UMY

Rodolfo C. Severino, Southeast Asia in Search of an ASEAN Community: Insight from the former ASEAN Secretary-General, 2006

Roadmap for an ASEAN Community 2009-2015, ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta, 2009

ASEAN Menatap Masa Depan: 40 th ASEAN, Dirjend Kerjasama ASEAN, Deplu RI, 2007

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