Decision making, which is fundamental to the effectiveness of any
institution or organization, can occur through a variety of rules (see
Table 9.1). Although some form of voting is seen as an efficient way
of making decisions in situations where there are divergent preferences,
majority voting can undermine or even fracture the institution when
“persistent minorities” unhappy with the [majority] decisions adopted
choose to exit the institution as decisions cannot be changed unless
through another majority vote.12 Although less efficient than majority
voting systems,consensus-decision rules work against the collapse of the project by preventing the emergence of such “discontented minorities”
as even one “nay” means the proposed action cannot be adopted.13
But, consensus decision making is not always the long drawn-out
process it is often made out to be. In ASEAN, consensus rarely means
all ten members have to agree on the joint action; consensus is not
synonymous with unanimity. However, cooperation can be blocked
if even one member state opposes the project.14 Only if this happens
will the process of getting agreement on some proposal be protracted.
Consensus decision making will remain a key feature of ASEAN
decision making although, the ASEAN Charter accords ASEAN leaders
the right to use voting on issues that cannot be resolved through
consensus.