Introduction: ASEAN since 1967 — Origins, Evolution and Recent Developments

Abstract

When ASEAN was established in August 1967 there was little in the historical record of Southwest Asian inter-state relations, or in the recent tension-ridden relations between the five founding member-states, to suggest that the new organisation would have either a long or a productive life. For its first eight years, ASEAN in fact seemed to achieve little more than its own survival and observers assessing the organisation in 1974 and 1975 predicted only a low-key and modest future for it. The impact of the communist victories in Indochina in 1975, however, induced the ASEAN members to revitalise their association in order to promote both their economic interests and the security of their political and strategic environment. By 1988 it was clear that while the development and co-ordination of mutual interests among six highly diverse states was a continuing difficulty, ASEAN was serving important economic and political interests of its members and deserved the serious attention it was now being given. The third heads of government ‘summit’ meeting in Manila on 14–15 December 1987 underlined ASEAN’s ongoing relevance and importance even though the members continue to face challenges in maintaining ASEAN’s vitality, cohesion and sense of direction, particularly in economic co-operation.

This chapter incorporates material originally published in World Review, 19 (1980) 5–16. The author wishes to thank Dr Hal Hill (Australian National University), Dr Tim Huxley (University of New South Wales) and Brian G. Martin (Legislative Research Service, Canberra) for their comments and advice.