is paper reviews the promotion of democracy and human rights by the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). It traces the development of EU-ASEAN relations and contrasts the history of the European Union with that of ASEAN, as well as the histories of their respective member states. e paper makes recommendations on how the EU should engage ASEAN as a partner organization, as well as on how to enhance the EU’s perception of ASEAN e orts at democracy building and ASEAN’s perception of the EU’s intentions in seeking cooperation for democracy building. Since the 1990s, ASEAN-EU relations have been a ected by human rights issues. It is important for both parties to clarify their perceptions of each other’s positions on human rights. Such a clari cation would be timely, especially now that both sides recognize each other’s strategic importance in the midst of worsening global economic, environmental and security crises.