Towards regional integration in Southeast Asia?
The first decade of the twenty-first century witnessed a vigorous economic recovery by the countries of Southeast Asia from the Asian financial crisis of 1997-98 and a re-invigoration if attempts to move towards a tighter from of regionalism within the framework of ASEAN. However, the continual emphasis in practice upon the ASEAN way, that is the procedure dor reaching agreements based on non- interference, consultation and consensus, militated against the movement towards a rules-based organization. Hence the notable achievement of agreeing upon a charter for ASEAN on its fortieth anniversary in 2007 was diminished somewhat by the evident gap between the aspirations to establish a rules-based organization committed to democracy, the rule of law, human rights and good governance and the ability to put these into practice.