The ASEAN Charter sets out the principles for ASEAN as a legal entity to widen and deepen its relations with external partners in accordance with the principle of ASEAN’s centrality in external political, economic, social and cultural relations while remaining actively engaged, outward-looking, inclusive and non-discriminatory. Practically, it is observed that ASEAN has limited and managed those partnerships, particularly in dialogue partnership status, on a case-by-case basis and its decision is basically based on the consensus of all ASEAN Member States. When its dialogue partners reached at 10, ASEAN has put in place a moratorium on new dialogue partnership since 1999. The 2014 Guidelines for ASEAN’s External Relations is somehow missing key factors and specific indicators to justify a dialogue partnership status, which is a main reason among others that ASEAN could not reach a consensus to lift the moratorium on new dialogue partnership. Given current development, ASEAN is to think about new generation of its external relations, and considers reaching out to potential external partners from other parts of the world in a holistic manner.
“Being ASEAN’s Dialogue Partner: Between Expectations & Practices” is proposed to answer two key questions: First, what are considerations of ASEAN for an external partner to be a Dialogue Partner of ASEAN? The second is what are prospects of ASEAN’s centrality in the conduct of its external relations?
The study is conducted based on empirical analysis and qualitative approach. Theories of regionalism and multilateralism with three central concepts – the logic of development, dialogue and cooperation, and coherence of collective action – are referred to discuss on how ASEAN could enhance cooperation and coordination among its Member States in the conduct of its external relations. Primary sources for this study are through the interviews and from the insights of personal experiences working on ASEAN’s affairs. Secondary sources include literature reviews and other selected data, consists of articles, texts, publications, published summary reports of meetings, journals and other periodicals on related subject.