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A systemic perspective on regional integration after the end of the Cold War

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Abstract

This paper explains the systemic pressures on states in Europe and Southeast Asia to broaden their alliances after the end of the Cold War, and how expansion impacts on regional integration. Inter-state cooperation is still very much the basis of regional integration. In Europe, states will scuttle attempts at deepening integration if this threatens their security, as the recent political impasse in the European Union reveals. In Southeast Asia, by contrast, the threat to the security of states arises from their failure to deepen economic integration in order to survive an anarchic world financial system. This failure is due to entrenched internal constraints that prevents closer inter-state cooperation and the pooling of sovereignty. Thus, while attempts to move into the area of political union will be resisted by states eager to maintain their sovereignty, the inability to advance into the area of monetary union can only lead to demise of states.

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Notes

  1. See Szabo (1991) The New Europeans: Beyond the Balance of Power in Proceedings of the Academy of Political Science, Vol. 38, No. 1, The New Europe: Revolution in East-West Relations., pp. 26–34.

  2. Stephen Mulvey/BBC News (2005) EU values—united in diversity? [Online] Available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3280697.stm (Accessed 12 August 2005).

  3. This kind of behaviour among states is discussed by Christensen and Snyder (1990) ‘Chain Gangs and Passed Bucks: Predicting Alliance Patterns in Multipolarity’ in International Organisation, Vol. 44, No. 2 (Spring), pp. 137–168.

  4. The cost of unifying ex-communist East Germany with West Germany alone runs into hundreds of billions of euros, and the German economy has yet to recover from this.

  5. For a discussion on why bipolar systems are more stable than multipolar systems, see Waltz (1979) Theory of International Politics Addison-Wesley Press, Reading MA.

  6. The crisis has abated for the time being with Myanmar's recent decision to defer its chairmanship.

  7. In addition, Aung San Suu Kyi is now in back in detention.

  8. The system is a codified set of procedures found in the ASEAN Harmonised Nomenclature, the CEPT Rules of Origin and its Operational Certification Procedures. See Arif, 1998. ‘Intra-Regional Trade Liberalization in ASEAN à la AFTA’ in Chia Siow Yue and Marcello Pacini (eds.) ASEAN in the New Asia: Issues and Trends Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, p. 79. See also ASEAN Secretariat (2005a–n) Protocol Governing The Implementation Of The Asean Harmonised Tariff Nomenclature, [Online] Available at http://www.aseansec.org/AHTN_Protocol.pdf (Accessed 5 August 2005) and ASEAN Secretariat (2005a–n) Trade, [Online] Available at http://www.aseansec.org/12021.htm (Accessed 5 August 2005).

  9. ASEAN Secretariat (2005a–n) Ha Noi Plan of Action, [Online] Available at http://www.aseansec.org/687.htm (Accessed 1 Julai 2005).

  10. ASEAN Secretariat (2005a–n) Joint Ministerial Statement Seventh ASEAN Finance Ministers' Meeting 6–7 August 2003, Makati, Philippines, [Online] Available at http://www.aseansec.org/15028.htm (Accessed 1 July 2005).

  11. The impetus for European integration was also the result of the turbulent state of finances in the Western world during the 1930s, which through a series of consequent political events led to the outbreak of the Second World War.

  12. For more on how internal (state-/unit-level) constraints impact on the ability of states to adjust to the international system see Waltz (1979) Theory of International Politics Addison-Wesley Press, Reading MA.

  13. European Union (2005a–e) How does the Commission take decisions? [Online], Available at http://europa.eu.int/comm/atwork/basicfacts/index_en.htm#decision (Accessed 15 July 2005).

  14. European Union (2005a–e) The Court of Justice of the European Communities, [Online] Available at http://curia.eu.int/en/instit/presentationfr/index_cje.htm (Accessed 15 July 2005).

  15. ASEAN Secretariat (2005a–n) The Asean Secretariat: Basic Mandate, Functions And Composition, [Online] Available at http://www.aseansec.org/11856.htm (Accessed 20 August 2005).

  16. ASEAN Secretariat (2005a–n) Protocol Amending the Agreement of the Establishment of the ASEAN Secretariat, [Online] Available at http://www.aseansec.org/847.htm (Accessed 20 August 2005).

  17. Only the Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretaries-General are authorised to attend Ministerial-level meetings.

  18. The Secretary-General of ASEAN himself however is officially given the responsibility to ‘initiate plans and programmes of activities’ and is the ‘custodian of all ASEAN documents’ but this is a very poorly define role. See ASEAN Secretariat (2005a–n) The Asean Secretariat: Basic Mandate, Functions And Composition, [Online] Available at http://www.aseansec.org/11856.htm (Accessed 20 August 2005).

  19. ASEAN Secretariat (2005a–n) ASEAN Protocol on Enhanced Dispute Settlement Mechanism, [Online] Available at http://www.aseansec.org/16754.htm (Accessed 1 July 2005).

  20. Recently renamed the ‘Council of the European Union.’

  21. European Union (2005a–e) The Council, [Online] Available at http://ue.eu.int/showPage.asp?id=426&lang=en (Accessed 1 July 2005).

  22. There are numerous preparatory committees made of member-states delegates to the European Union. See European Union (2005a–e) Council Configurations, [Online] Available at http://ue.eu.int/showPage.asp?id=427&lang=en&mode=g (Accessed 1 July 2005).

  23. European Union (2005a–e) The Council, [Online] Available at http://ue.eu.int/showPage.asp?id=426&lang=en (Accessed 1 July 2005).

  24. In fact, as early as 1983, an ASEAN Task force that had been formed to evaluate the organisation's institutional framework proposed that the AMM, AEM and the Other Ministers forum be replaced by a single institution, an ‘ASEAN Council of Ministers’. See Tan, 2000. ASEAN Economic Development and Co-operation (2nd Edition) Singapore: Time Academic Press, p. 29.

  25. ASEAN Secretariat (2005a–n) Illustrative ASEAN Organisational Structure [Online], Available at http://www.aseansec.org/13103.htm (Accessed 22 August 2005).

  26. For co-operation on immigration matters, the DGICM is set to become ASEAN's ‘highest policy- and decision-making body.’ See ASEAN Secretariat (2005a–n) ASEAN Plan of Action for Cooperation on Immigration Matters, [Online] Available at http://www.aseansec.org/16572.htm (Accessed 1 Jun 2005).

  27. ASEAN Secretariat (2005a–n) Protocol Governing The Implementation Of The Asean Harmonised Tariff Nomenclature, [Online] Available at http://www.aseansec.org/AHTN_Protocol.pdf (Accessed 5 August 2005).

  28. ASEAN Secretariat (2005a–n) Financial Cooperation, [Online] Available at http://www.aseansec.org/10368.htm (Accessed 21 August 2005).

  29. Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Malaysia (2005) Developments in the Implementation of the CEPT Scheme for ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), [Online] Available at http://www.miti.gov.my/trade/mtmain.htm (Accessed 30 March 2005).

  30. United Press International (2005) Malaysia Auto Sector Set to Consolidate, [Online] Available at http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040708-072120-1479r.htm (Accessed 1 July 2005).

  31. This is the ‘Protocol on Special Arrangements for Sensitive and Highly Sensitive Products and Unprocessed Agriculture Products.’

  32. Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Malaysia (2005) Developments in the Implementation of the CEPT Scheme for ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), [Online] Available at http://www.miti.gov.my/trade/mtmain.htm (Accessed 30 March 2005).

  33. Data accessed through United National Conference on Trade and Development (2005) UNCTAD Trade Analysis and Information System, [Online] Available at http://r0.unctad.org/trains/ (Accessed 30 March 2005) and The Economist (Economist Intelligence Unit) (2005) Philippines Economy: ‘Sin Tax’ Approved, [Online] Available at http://www.viewswire.com/index.asp?layout=display_article&doc_id=977881497 (Accessed 30 March 2005).

  34. ASEAN Secretariat (2005a–n) Financial Cooperation, [Online] Available at http://www.aseansec.org/10368.htm (Accessed 21 August 2005).

  35. ASEAN Secretariat (2005a–n) ASEAN Response to the Financial Crisis, [Online] Available at http://www.aseansec.org/7660.htm (Accessed 21 August 2005).

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  1. Centre for the Promotion of Knowledge and Language Learning, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Sabah, Malaysia

    Sanen Marshall

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Marshall, S. A systemic perspective on regional integration after the end of the Cold War. AEJ 3, 347–360 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10308-005-0022-6

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