Now, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic as the 2024 ASEAN leader is set to bring together two annual ASEAN summits towards the second half of this year. Although not following the usual path, there is a great ambition that the Lao People’s Democratic Republic can prove its continuity in determining the course of ASEAN, most importantly at a time when great resilience competitions are increasingly creating strategic discussions in the region. ASEAN was principally formed to keep an eye on disputes between superpowers so that it could set its sights on developmental tasks[i]. For ASEAN, stability can be achieved not only through the military stage but with all aspects from the economic to the socio-cultural stage. Such confidence remains in ASEAN forever even after ASEAN connects countries with great advantages and even those competing in all ASEAN-led methods. Such as the ASEAN Regional Forum, the East Asia Summit, the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM) plus the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting[ii].
To deal with the increasing competition among superpowers and large countries in the region, ASEAN as an institution seems to justify the following parallel measures: practical collaboration, comprehensive security, and ASEAN-focusing. ASEAN’s perception of the Indo-Pacific acknowledges the existence of tactical competition in the newly formed Indo-Pacific region but reiterates that ASEAN should continue on the existing path towards improvement. The imbalance between trust and denial issued by regional disputes, lack of action and cohesion, diverse priorities with external colleagues, and internal difficulties with regional repercussions will continue to be in dispute. Nevertheless, open and comprehensive negotiations between officials, academics, and the general public must continue, as thought and controversy will always be essential for renewed and cooperative action.
The end of ASEAN’s commitment this year is the creation of a new ASEAN community vision. The existing vision will expire in 2025, and ASEAN has endorsed the ASEAN Community 2045 vision program: A credible, renewed, dynamic, and people-centered ASEAN. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic’s task as ASEAN leader will be crucial in making sure that the vision will be taken up next year in Malaysia and that ASEAN has finalized the upgraded strategic plan that will make up next year’s embedded file, which may be another new edition of the existing Viantine Plan of Action[iii].
International relations has several theories for seeing an international phenomenon that occurs, for this case, the author uses the theory of Neoliberal Institutionalism. According to Robert Kohane, Neoliberal Institutionalism is not a deductive theory logically connected to literalism and neorealism, but rather a perspective on politics. This theory focuses partly on international institutions and their functions, and partly on state interests. It raises questions about the influence of institutions on state action and about the consequences of institutional change. It assumes that states are the primary actors and examines both the material forces of world politics and the subjective self-understanding of people[iv]. The basic premise of neoliberalist institutionalism is that overly self-interested states can be problematic and they prefer to build international institutions to deal with common problems. The term ‘institutions’ here does not only refer to the narrow sense of formal institutions such as the UN, WTO, IMF, World Bank and so on. It also refers to institutions in the broad sense of ‘the rules of the game in a society, or more formally, the humanly devised constraints that shape human interaction’[v].
ARGUMENTS
From the theory above, it can be seen that as a regional organization. ASEAN has the function of maintaining the security stability of its member countries and their interests. Some of the things that ASEAN should see as the main focus for 2024 under the leadership of Laos can be seen from many things; namely ASEAN needs to develop a New Community Vision that can reflect current desires and obstacles. In the Indo-Pacific context, this vision should prioritize regional collaboration and security, as well as the capability to adapt to shifting geopolitical dynamics. Continued application is key so that the vision does not just become oratory, but can be interpreted into concrete actions that work for all members.
The launch of the Aus4ASEAN package demonstrates Australia’s interest in strengthening relations with ASEAN. The initiative covers a wide range of sectors, including economy, education, security that can help ASEAN member states to resolve their obstacles. This participation makes for a positive joint operation, strengthening ASEAN’s foundation in the midst of global competition. ASEAN needs a more workable institutional concept to ensure action in resolving issues such as disputes among members and crises in member states.
The slow progress that ASEAN has made in resolving the Myanmar issue must be addressed, most importantly by recognizing that the situation in Myanmar could fall into greater uncertainty in the region. ASEAN needs to be more active and coherent in building on existing initiatives and finding a solution that is acceptable to all parties. This is a measure of ASEAN’s commitment to regional stability. The year 2024 is fundamental for ASEAN under the directorship of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, especially in terms of the categorization and implementation of the new ASEAN outlook. To challenge the increasingly complicated global competition, ASEAN is desired to design a way that is not only ambitious, but also effective and integral.
The active participation of external colleagues, such as Australia through Aus4ASEAN and the Republic of Korea’s KASI initiative, symbolizes a strong attachment to optimizing regional cooperation. These initiatives provide important help in capacity building and cooperation in security and infrastructure, realizing a more constant and sustainable environment in the region. According to the author, to achieve this vision, ASEAN must overcome significant internal obstacles, including the separation between member states and the ongoing emergency in Myanmar. Therefore, it is fundamental for ASEAN to establish a more cooperative and efficient institutional design that can cater to the desires and dynamics that exist within and outside the institution. Developing inter-state alliances and optimizing harmonization across pillars would be more essential to strengthen ASEAN’s collective bargaining power in the global sphere. With the resilience to react definitively and a strong attachment to balance, ASEAN not only serves as a balanced resilience amidst the uncertainty of the world but also ensures the well-being of all its members as well as the region as a whole. This success can be a reflection of the shared outlook and cohesiveness that is desired to be achieved in the future. More open and focused discussions are better for aligning the interests of both parties and strengthening the ASEAN partnership. Being an organization that serves regional stability is one of the functions and tasks of ASEAN as seen from the theory of institutional neoliberalism.
[i] ASEAN LAO PDR 2024. (2024, July 29). ASEAN LAO PDR 2024 – ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience. https://www.laoschairmanship2024.gov.la/
[ii] Negara, K. S. (2023). KTT ASEAN 2023 Jangkar Stabilitas dan Pertumbuhan Berkelanjutan | Sekretariat Negara. Retrieved from https://setneg.go.id/baca/index/ktt_asean_2023_jangkar_stabilitas_dan_pertumbuhan_berkelanjutan
[iii] Humas. (2023, September 15). ASEAN Concord IV: Legacy Indonesia pada Keketuaan ASEAN 2023. Sekretariat Kabinet Republik Indonesia. https://setkab.go.id/asean-concord-iv-legacy-indonesia-pada-keketuaan-asean-2023/
[iv] Robert keohane, International Institusions and state power: esaays in International Relations Theory, (Boulder: Westview Press, 1989), hlm.2.
5 Look Doughlas C.North, Institutions, Institutional Change, and Economic Performance, (New York:Cambridge University Press,1990) hlm.3.
REFERENCES
ASEAN LAO PDR 2024. (2024, July 29). ASEAN LAO PDR 2024 – ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience. https://www.laoschairmanship2024.gov.la/
Negara, K. S. (2023). KTT ASEAN 2023 Jangkar Stabilitas dan Pertumbuhan Berkelanjutan | Sekretariat Negara. Retrieved from https://setneg.go.id/baca/index/ktt_asean_2023_jangkar_stabilitas_dan_pertumbuhan_berkelanjutan
Humas. (2023, September 15). ASEAN Concord IV: Legacy Indonesia pada Keketuaan ASEAN 2023. Sekretariat Kabinet Republik Indonesia. https://setkab.go.id/asean-concord-iv-legacy-indonesia-pada-keketuaan-asean-2023/
Robert keohane, International Institusions and state power: esaays in International Relations Theory, (Boulder: Westview Press, 1989), hlm.2.
Look Doughlas C.North, Institutions, Institutional Change, and Economic Performance, (New York:Cambridge University Press,1990) hlm.3.
