For two decades, ASEAN has officially been striving for the establishment of a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN) in Southeast Asia. The concept is an original indigenous prescription for an ideal regional order managed by the Southeast Asian states themselves without external interference. However, the realization of this project is proving to be a rather difficult task that is still far from being completed. This paper examines the ZOPFAN proposal in terms of its origins and genesis, its conceptualization, and its prospects of being put into operation. Special consideration is given to the way the concept deals with the problems of zonal neutrality. The paper concludes that, against the background of recent developments in international and regional affairs, the gap between ZOPFAN in theory and ZOPFAN in reality is bound to remain for quite some time. Whether the gap between theory and reality will be narrowed increasingly depends on the Southeast Asian states.

Regional security institutions play a significant role in shaping the behavior of existing and rising regional powers by nurturing security norms and rules, monitoring state activities, and sometimes imposing sanctions, thereby formulating the configuration of regional security dynamics. Yet, their security roles and influence do not remain constant. Their raison d’etre, objectives, and functions experience sporadic changes, and some institutions upgrade military functions for peacekeeping operations, while others limit their functions to political and security dialogues. The question is: why and how do these variances in institutional change emerge? This book explores the mechanisms of institutional change, focusing on regional security institutions led by non-great powers. It constructs a theoretical model for institutional change that provides a new understanding of their changing roles in regional security, which has yet to be fully explored in the International Relations field. In so doing, the book illuminates why, when, and how each organization restructures its role, function, and influence. Using case studies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Organization of African Unity (OAU)/ African Union (AU), it also sheds light on similarities and differences in institutional change between regional security institutions.

The Asian Yearbook of International Law is the first publication primarily dedicated to international law as seen from an Asian perspective. It provides a forum for the publication of articles in the field of international law written by experts from the region, and also other articles relating to Asian topics. Its aim is twofold: to promote the dissemination of knowledge of international law in Asia and to provide an insight into Asian views and practices, which will be especially useful to a non-Asian readership. As a rule, each volume of the Asian Yearbook will contain Articles, Notes, State Practice, a Chronicle of Events and Incidents, United Nations Activities with Special Relevance to Asia, a Survey of Activities of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee, a Bibliography and a Documents section.

This work takes an in-depth look at the muli-faceted contemporary relationship between Singapore and Japan since the end of World War II. It is the story of a relationship between an economic superpower, Japan, and an enterprising city-state whose leaders have sought to emulate not only Japan's economic success but several key facets of Japanese society as well. No other country surpasses Singapore in its public admiration of Japan. How is it possible for a multi-ethnic Singapore to emulate a relatively homogeneous Japan? What features of economic and political motives behind the attempt to emulate Japan? These and other questions are adressed in this work, which will be of interest to scholars of the international relations and security of East and Southeast Asia.

ASEAN 50: Regional Security Cooperation through Selected Documents curates key official documents that establish ASEAN as the foundation of Southeast Asia's peace and security. Since 1967, ASEAN has played the crucial role of managing conflicts and maintaining stability in a region shaped by diverse political, economic and socio-cultural dynamics. During the Cold War, ASEAN's ability to keep major power rivalries and intra-mural disputes in check provided the conditions for economic growth in the region. Yet the extent of ASEAN's contributions to the security of Southeast Asia have not been systematically presented.This compendium of official ASEAN declarations, statements, treaties, conventions and workplans demonstrates the activism and innovation of ASEAN member countries in their management of regional security for the past five decades. ASEAN 50: Regional Security Cooperation through Selected Documents provides answers to how ASEAN remains a cohesive organisation through periods of regional conflict, how ASEAN unity thrives despite seemingly insurmountable differences among the ten members, and how ASEAN centrality is resilient against pressure arising from great power influences in Southeast Asia.

First published in 2000. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.