ASEAN is well-known for its elitist tendencies, and for how few of its policies correspond to the needs of Southeast Asian people. It could also be argued that ASEAN has become this way due to the lack of pressure from civil society groups on the Association.
Since its establishment in 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has shown little interest in facilitating the participation of civil society in its decision-making processes.
ASEAN is well-known for its elitist tendencies, and for how few of its policies correspond to the needs of Southeast Asian people. At the same time, however, it could also be argued that ASEAN has become this way due to the lack of pressure from civil society groups on the Association.
The problem of a democratic-deficit is not only caused by the Association itself, but also by the failure of civil society groups to put pressure on the Association. However, during its infancy, most ASEAN member countries were governed by authoritarian regimes which made it difficult for social pressure to emerge, not only at the national level, but also at the regional level.
Recently, in time with ASEAN's plan to introduce an ASEAN Charter and an ASEAN Community, the Association has begun to realise that there is increasing dissatisfaction amongst the intellectual elite and civil society groups regarding ASEAN's closed and exclusive nature.
There are now several forums through which civil society groups can find a voice in ASEAN, from the ASEAN People's Assembly (APA), which was convened in Batam, Indonesia, in 2000, all the way up to the ASEAN Civil Society Conference, which was held in Shah Alam, Malaysia, in December 2005.
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Another civil society network, the Solidarity for Asian People's Advocacy (SAPA), was also established in early 2006 to accommodate discussion and debate amongst Southeast Asian civil society groups, particularly non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that have regional interests and concerns.
In addition, civil society groups have been invited to provide input to the members of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG), who were tasked to prepare recommendations on the ASEAN Charter to the leaders of the member countries at the ASEAN Summit, in Cebu, in December 2006.
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These developments suggest that not only should ASEAN address its democratic deficit problem, but also that civil society groups are eager to engage with ASEAN and its activities.
This paper aims to analyse the ways in which Southeast Asian civil society groups have engaged with ASEAN so far.
It also aims to explain the increase in civil society interest in ASEAN and its activities, as well as examining how civil society groups can channel their concerns effectively to ASEAN and its member countries.
This paper also attempts to identify various different channels that civil society groups can use to address their national and regional concerns vis-à-vis ASEAN.
In order to facilitate our discussion, this paper is divided into several sections; each aims at analysing specific issues that emerge throughout the process of engagement between civil society groups and ASEAN.
The second part of the paper highlights some key points about how relevant it is for civil society groups to engage with ASEAN and its activities.
The third section identifies several different advocacy channels used by national and regional civil society groups.
The fourth section describes the way in which civil society groups have been engaged in the creation of the ASEAN Charter.
This section describes civil society input to the EPG regarding the ASEAN Charter. The fifth section analyses the future scenario regarding civil society engagement with ASEAN.
Finally, the paper concludes with the way forward for Southeast Asian civil society engagement with ASEAN.
Sources and Relevant Links:
SAPA Southeast Asian Civil Society and the ASEAN Charter: The Way Forward 01 October 2006
The Nation Asean drafters meet civil society groups
SAPA Civil Society Engagements with ASEAN
ASEAN Report of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on the ASEAN Charter
SAPA Submission on Economic Cooperation to the ASEAN EPG on the ASEAN Charter
SAPA Submission on Political and Human Security to the ASEAN EPG on the ASEAN Charter
Task Force AMW ASEAN member states urged to ratify UN Human Rights Treaties and ILO Core Conventions
Task Force AMW CIVIL SOCIETY-TRADE UNION: POSITION PAPER ON THE RIGHTS OF MIGRANT WORKERS
11th ASEAN Summit Chairman's Statement of the 11th ASEAN Summit
"One Vision, One Identity, One Community" Kuala Lumpur, 12 December 2005
SAPA- WG on ASEAN 1st ASEAN CIVIL SOCIETY CONFERENCE, Kuala Lumpur, December 2005
Focus CIVIL SOCIETY MEETS ASEAN, FINALLY? 17 December 2005
SAPA- WG on ASEAN 2nd ASEAN Civil Society Conference Held in Cebu, December 2006
SAPA- WG on ASEAN ASEAN for the People: Statement of the 2nd ASEAN Civil Society Conference (ACSC II)
