Is Asean a Toothless Tiger?
IS ASEAN A TOOTHLESS TIGER?
Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) established officially on 8th August 1967 in Bangkok by the participating Government and its members were Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines. Its purpose was to ensure the survival of its members by promoting regional stability and limiting competition between them.[1] The Bangkok Declaration gave birth to ASEAN and it states that the objectives of ASEAN are to accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region.[2] There are definitely some positive and negative perspectives on ASEAN especially when being struck by a few crises but on top of that, ASEAN is still breathing up till today. To today’s date, ASEAN is made up of 10 countries namely, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The achievements of ASEAN are impressive since its existence since there is no armed conflict between the ASEAN members in a region previously beset by confrontation although bilateral tensions arises on several occasions. Internationally, ASEAN has managed to attain a high profile and the regional grouping has acted in concert in the economic as well as in the diplomatic spheres.[3]
A tiger is being explain as a fierce or brave animal and is feared by anyone just by putting tiger on their mind. To be further explained in our context is brave in making decision and act accordingly to the decision made. On the other hand, a toothless tiger is a fearless animal and is a laughing factor even when putting it on our mind. Simply put, a toothless tiger in our context is an organisation that did not make any action but only say things without accomplishing it and in other words it is simply referred to ‘a talk show’. Everybody would agree upon action speaks louder than words for which ASEAN did not take this into their consideration by holding on to their principle of
Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) established officially on 8th August 1967 in Bangkok by the participating Government and its members were Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines. Its purpose was to ensure the survival of its members by promoting regional stability and limiting competition between them.[1] The Bangkok Declaration gave birth to ASEAN and it states that the objectives of ASEAN are to accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region.[2] There are definitely some positive and negative perspectives on ASEAN especially when being struck by a few crises but on top of that, ASEAN is still breathing up till today. To today’s date, ASEAN is made up of 10 countries namely, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The achievements of ASEAN are impressive since its existence since there is no armed conflict between the ASEAN members in a region previously beset by confrontation although bilateral tensions arises on several occasions. Internationally, ASEAN has managed to attain a high profile and the regional grouping has acted in concert in the economic as well as in the diplomatic spheres.[3]
A tiger is being explain as a fierce or brave animal and is feared by anyone just by putting tiger on their mind. To be further explained in our context is brave in making decision and act accordingly to the decision made. On the other hand, a toothless tiger is a fearless animal and is a laughing factor even when putting it on our mind. Simply put, a toothless tiger in our context is an organisation that did not make any action but only say things without accomplishing it and in other words it is simply referred to ‘a talk show’. Everybody would agree upon action speaks louder than words for which ASEAN did not take this into their consideration by holding on to their principle of
Bibliography: Narine Shaun. Explaining ASEAN: Regionalism in Southeast Asia (United Kingdom: Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc, 2002). Rajah Ananda, ‘Social and Cultural Issues in ASEAN’, in Sandhu K.S, Siddique Sharon et al (eds.), The ASEAN Reader (Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 1992). Ramcharan Robin, ‘Insights from ASEAN’s Foreign Policy Co-operation: The ASEAN Way, a Real Spirit or a Phantom?’, Contemporary Southeast Asia, vol. 22, No. 1, 2000. p. 89. Jones David Martin and Smith Micheal L.R., ‘Making Process, Not Progress: ASEAN and the Evolving East Asian Regional Order.’, International Security, vol. 32, No. 1, 2009. pp. 170-171. Katanyuu Ruukun, ‘Beyond Non-Interference in ASEAN: The Association’s Role in Myanmar’s National Reconciliation and Democratization’, Asian Survey, Vol. XLVI, No. 6, 2006. p. 826. [1] Narine Shaun, Explaining ASEAN: Regionalism in Southeast Asia, Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc, United Kingdom, 2002, p.12. [3] Ramcharan Robin, ‘Insights from ASEAN’s Foreign Policy Co-operation: The ASEAN Way, a Real Spirit or a Phantom?’, Contemporary Southeast Asia, Vol. 22, No. 1, 2000. p. 89. [4] Katanyuu Ruukun, ‘Beyond Non-Interference in ASEAN: The Association’s Role in Myanmar’s National Reconciliation and Democratization’, Asian Survey, Vol. XLVI, No. 6, 2006. p. 826. [6] Narine Shaun, Explaining ASEAN: Regionalism in Southeast Asia, Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc, United Kingdom, 2002, p.12.