The global economy, politics, and national securities are matters that have seen tremendous change ever since the global financial crisis of 2008. The surge in power of such countries as China, India, and Russia has rendered more complex the international rivalry that has been traditionally composed of the United States, Japan, and the European Union. In particular, China and the United States have been vying for power with increasing intensity, which has substantially affected international relations. Smaller countries are thus at the mercy of their more dominant counterparts and are subject to heavy political, security, economic, and cultural influence. To cope with this situation, many smaller countries have reached out to each other for help.
The ASEAN Community (AC) is to be comprised of three pillars: the APSC, the AEC, and the ASCC. The AC is a testament to the extensive level of cooperation that ASEAN countries are striving to attain in order to fend themselves from the increasing power and influence of powerful countries. In unity, ASEAN stands a better chance in terms of negotiations and making themselves heard. With its distinct advantages, ASEAN plays an important role in peacekeeping and promoting prosperity in the East Asia and Asia Pacific region.
So as to establish AC by 2015, ASEAN makes it one of its top priorities to build a cohesive community. The book titled “Assessing the establishment of the ASEAN Community” is the result of research done by a research team from the Southeast Asian Studies Institute, led by Nguyen Huy Hoang PhD. The book includes five chapters. Chapter 1: Overview of the commitment to establish the AC and roadmap. Chapter 2: Progress assessment: ASEAN Political and Security Committee. Chapter 3: Progress assessment: ASEAN Economic Committee. Chapter 4: Progress assessment: ASEAN Social and Cultural Committee. Chapter 5: Outlook and a number of measures to encourage fulfilling the commitment to establish AC.
The book will enable the reader to gain a clear perspective of the roadmap for AC and its three pillars, which ASEAN plans to have completed by 2015.
The reader will be able to identify the challenges and limitations that ASEAN faces. ASEAN is likely to develop measures to address such challenges and limitations so as to realize their goal in time.
Whether it be in the eyes of a student or a scholar, the book should prove to be a valuable source of information on regional issues, global issues, and regional cooperation. It should also be a sound foundation upon which ASEAN, and Vietnam in particular, can devise policies on international relations and integration.
Nguyen Thu Ha