Question One: The Formation ASEAN

 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

 

 

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International Relations

Question One: The Formation ASEAN

The establishment of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) took place during the year 1997.[1] Southeast Asia was experiencing the economic crisis as well as other political challenges that significantly impacted the stability of the countries within the same region.[2] The issues of economic crisis, as well as the significant political challenges, has led to the creation of the organization that would allow them to consolidate their position at the international level. 

This discussion is about the use of multiple international relations theories to offer the explanation as to why ASEAN decided to pursue regional integration. Four critical theories are used to justify the ASEAN integration. Major approaches in the international relations namely neorealism, constructivism, neoliberalism and the global society approach can offer critical information on the reasons why ASEAN adopted the regional integration.[3] Notably, all the theories of the international relations play a critical role in providing justification for the conduct of states in a more rational manner. The different paradigms that offer the explanation on the ASEAN’s development also suggest the reasons that help in validating the sustainability of neorealism.

According to the theory, one of the significant driving forces for countries to come together is the ability to take care of their interests at the international level. Individuals who believe in neorealist theory argue that on the international level, activities of various nations are characterized by anarchy. In the presence of extensive conflict, for instance, when a region is experiencing adverse political strife, the countries involved will remain less stable.[4] In any case, the establishment of ASEAN was viewed as one of the major ways through which the Asian countries could address their issues by getting some guarantee on their security. Again, the integration according to neorealist view helps in facilitating cooperation of the countries not only within the political sector but also within other critical areas such as the economy and thus can help them to retain stability in several aspects.

The neoliberalism approach challenges the idea that institutions are vulnerable within the international system. In any case, neoliberalism argues that the states should have the power to cooperate with one another despite the fact that there is anarchy within the international system.[5] Through the influence of norms and institutions, states can achieve proper cooperation among themselves; for instance, the ASEAN can help the states to acquire the economic and political strength that makes them look strong in the international arena.

From the constructivism perspective, states tend to focus on the role, norms, and ways through which they can build their identities. The direction that a country takes to define their way in which they conduct their activities is significantly influenced by the manner majority of the leaders within key influential posts (mostly political offices) see the entire international system. In relation to the formation of ASEAN, the countries that are members of the organization focus on the notion of championing common goal and identity.[6] Nonetheless, the ASEAN has remained united over the years because the countries are driven by the common agenda. In the modern society, ASEAN has managed to overcome certain issues such as insecurity and economic difficulties. Based on the views provided by different theoretical approaches, especially the neorealism theory, it is more likely that members of the ASEAN will pursue matters that can enable them to remain united in the future. The main reason why deeper integration should work is because of the sense of security that individual countries receive as members of the organization.

Question Two: Globalization and “Erosion of the State”

Globalization is one of the fundamental areas of concern among many countries. The concept of globalization has been a topic of discussion in many fields.[7] It has attracted several researchers to look on the matter from the different standpoint. In the study of international relations, investigators seem to pay a lot of attention to globalization and seek to establish whether globalization is influencing the nation-state.

Political factors related to globalization play the significant role in undermining the establishment of the nation-state. The expansion of globalization across the world is one of the reasons why there is a weakening of the sovereign status of many countries. Notably, nation-states usually have the legal authority to handle matters that are internal in ways that they best understand. In any case, the fact that a country has the full authority to conduct its activities, for instance, to ma