Table Of ContentASEAN and Power in
International Relations
This book analyses the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a
powerful actor in International Relations by examining how the ASEAN com
munity has evolved, looking specifically at its relationship with the EU with
regards to human rights.
The book adds to important contemporary debates within constructivist
theory, shedding light on the need for ‘critical’ constructivism that emphasises
language and contestation and what that may entail. On an empirical level, it
challenges the idea of an ‘EU-centrism,’ demonstrating how ASEAN is the
major driving force behind its human rights and community aspirations, as well
as within the ASEAN-EU relationship. Furthermore, this book engages with the
introspection surrounding constructivism by addressing the trouble with
‘norms,’ and instead unpacking the relationship between ASEAN and the EU to
show language power in play. In particular, the book looks at how language, or
rather coercive language, helps us ‘see’ contestation in action, something that
researchers sympathetic towards the idea of ASEAN’s ‘resistance’ have been
unable to show through a focus on norms.
Tracing the evolution of the ASEAN community and human rights aspira
tions in a new light, showing how exactly the EU remains an inspiration, but not
a model, and more interestingly how ASEAN demonstrates power in the rela
tionship, the book will be of interest to academics working on Asian Studies,
European Studies, International Relations Theory and human rights.
Jamie D. Stacey is an independent researcher closely linked to Swansea
University, UK.
Routledge Contemporary Southeast Asia Series
The aim of this series is to publish original, high-quality work by both new and
established scholars on all aspects of Southeast Asia.
Science and Development in Thai and South Asian Buddhism
David L. Gosling
The Arab Uprisings and Malaysia’s Islamist Movements
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Irwan Saidin
Islam, Blasphemy, and Human Rights in Indonesia
The Trial of Ahok
Daniel Peterson
Agent Orange and Rural Development in Post-War Vietnam
Vu Le Thao Chi
Tourism and Development in Southeast Asia
Edited by Claudia Dolezal, Alexander Trupp and Bui T. Huong
Ethnographies of Development and Globalization in the Philippines
Emergent Socialities and the Governing of Precarity
Edited by Koki Seki
The Political Economy of Growth in Vietnam
Between States and Markets
Guanie Lim
ASEAN and Power in International Relations
ASEAN, the EU, and the Contestation of Human Rights
Jamie D. Stacey
For more information about this series, please visit: www.routledge.com/
Routledge-Contemporary-Southeast-Asia-Series/book-series/RCSEA
ASEAN and Power in
International Relations
ASEAN, the EU, and the Contestation
of Human Rights
Jamie D. Stacey
First published 2021
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2021 Jamie D. Stacey
The right of Jamie D. Stacey to be identified as author of this work has been
asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs
and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised
in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or
hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information
storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered
trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to
infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record has been requested for this book
ISBN: 978-0-367-46581-0 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-03197-0 (ebk)
Typeset in Times New Roman
by Wearset Ltd, Boldon, Tyne and Wear
Contents
List of figures vii
List of interviews viii
Preface x
Acknowledgements xiii
Abbreviations and acronyms xiv
ASEAN and EU timeline: a (shared) history of human rights xvi
PART I
Introduction 1
1 Who is ASEAN? 3
PART II
Theorising (language) power, ASEAN, and the EU 15
2 Constructing ASEAN, the EU, and the ASEAN-EU
relationship 17
3 Constructing constructivism 36
4 Representational force: constructivism’s critical edge 53
PART III
Contestation in the ASEAN-EU relationship 73
5 Contestation emerging: ‘Universalism’ and ‘Relativism’ 75
6 Contestation within: ‘Myanmar’ and ‘ASEAN’s Pride’ 103
7 Contestation infinitum: ‘Protection’ and ‘Promotion’ 137
vi Contents
PART IV
Conclusion 165
8 Reflections on ASEAN, human rights, and the power
to contest 167
References 177
Index 193
Figures
4.1 Terror 61
4.2 Exile 61
4.3 Tolerance 62
5.1 Linking phrases and logic: legitimising the EU reality
of ‘universalism’ 83
5.2 Linking phrases and logic: legitimising the ASEAN reality
of ‘relativism’ 87
5.3 Operationalising representational force: terror of
‘EU interference’ 92
5.4 Operationalising representational force: terror of
‘right to development’ 96
6.1 Linking phrases and logic: legitimising the EU
reality of ‘Myanmar’ 114
6.2 Linking phrases and logic: legitimising the ASEAN reality
of ‘ASEAN’s Pride’ 118
6.3 Operationalising representational force: exile of ‘sanctions’ 124
6.4 Operationalising representational force: terror
of ‘non-intervention’ 129
7.1 Linking phrases and logic: legitimising the EU reality
of ‘protection’ 146
7.2 Linking phrases and logic: legitimising the ASEAN reality
of ‘promotion’ 149
7.3 Operationalising representational force: terror
of ‘institutions’ 153
7.4 Operationalising representational force: terror of ‘AICHR’ 159
Interviews1
No. Date Place Name and Designation_____________________
1 21 February 2014 Singapore Ambassador Rodolfo C. Severino
Former ASEAN Secretary-General and head of
ASC, ISEAS
2 21 February 2014 Singapore Dr Termsak Chalermpalanupap
Director, ASEAN Political Security Directorate
3a 21 February 2014 Singapore Ms Moe Thuzar
3b 22 March 2015 Lead Researcher for Socio-Cultural Affairs,
ASC, ISEAS
4 18 March 2014 Singapore Mr Sinapan Samydorai
Civil Rights Activist and former President of
Think Centre
5a 10 April 2014 Jakarta Mr Rafendi Djamin
5b 13 November 2015 Manila Indonesian Representative for AICHR
6 10 March 2014 Jakarta AICHR Staff
7 9 April 2014 Singapore Dr Stefan Hell
Team Leader, EU-Myanmar MyGovernance
Project
8 17 April 2014 Singapore EU Delegation to Singapore
9 6 May 2014 Singapore Project Officer, EIDHR
10 17 September 2014 Brussels Ambassador Igor Driesmans
EU Ambassador to ASEAN
11 17 September 2014 Brussels Mr Steven Everts
Senior advisor in the Asia Pacific Department for
the EEAS
12 25 September 2014 Brussels Dr Christian Behrmann
ICC Focal Point/ Policy Officer, EEAS
13 3 March 2015 Singapore Ms Braema Mathiaparanum
President of MARUAH (Working Group for an
ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism, Singapore)
14 10 March 2015 Jakarta Senior Coordinator for ASEAN
15 16 March 2015 Jakarta Project Officer, EIDHR, and the Political Advisor
for the Delegation of the European Union to
Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam and ASEAN
16 20 March 2015 Singapore Ms Elaine Tan
President of the ASEAN Foundation
17 10 April 2015 Brussels Head of Division, Myanmar- EU Task Force
18 12 November 2015 Manila Atty. Homero Matthew P. Rusiana
Director, Field Operations Office
Interviews ix
Note
1 Almost 70 professionals from ASEAN and the EU (as well as a few leading activists
from civil society) were contacted for interview, but of these only 19 agreed. With
their permission, most of these have been quoted in the upcoming chapters. Please note
that titles/positions given were correct at the time of interview.
