The Effectiveness of ASEAN Regional Cooperation in Resolving Territorial Disputes and Democratic Crises in Southeast Asia

Abstract

This study examines the effectiveness of ASEAN regional cooperation in addressing territorial disputes and democratic crises within Southeast Asia. Utilizing a qualitative approach through library research, the analysis is based on a systematic review of ten selected scholarly articles relevant to ASEAN’s conflict management, normative framework, and institutional behavior. The findings reveal that ASEAN's foundational principles—namely, non-interference, consensus-based decision-making, and informal diplomacy—play a dual role. While they foster regional unity and prevent inter-state conflict, they simultaneously hinder ASEAN’s capacity to take assertive and timely actions in responding to internal political turmoil and complex geopolitical disputes. Notably, ASEAN’s response to the Myanmar political crisis and the prolonged South China Sea territorial disputes illustrates its institutional limitations and the lack of robust enforcement mechanisms. The analysis, grounded in Constructivist regionalism and Regime Theory, underscores the gap between ASEAN's normative aspirations and its operational capabilities. ASEAN’s emphasis on process over outcome, as well as the symbolic nature of its diplomacy, limits its impact in addressing democratic backsliding and sovereignty-related tensions. This study concludes that without strategic institutional reform, ASEAN risks declining regional relevance in the face of evolving political and security challenges. It recommends that future research explore comparative models of regional governance and consider reforms that strike a balance between state sovereignty and regional accountability. Strengthening ASEAN’s institutional capacity is imperative if it is to remain a credible and effective actor in Southeast Asia’s regional architecture.