A democracy agenda for ASEAN is not altogether impossible. A number of opportunities
could serve as points of departure for promoting democracy in the region. Therefore,
based on the above analysis of the limitations and opportunities for democracy building
in South East Asia, the EU could develop multiple strategies for implementing its policy.
The EU’s assistance and role in democracy building would need to be carried out in an
incremental way, taking a long-term perspective. The limited scope for the democracy
agenda in South East Asia would require the EU to confine its programmes to a number
of specific agendas that were comfortable for all ASEAN member states – especially the
non-democratic ones. For example, the EU could focus on less sensitive issues such as
the strengthening of governance capacity, combating corruption, humanitarian relief,
disaster management and promoting bureaucratic reform.