Kishore Mahbubani - The ASEAN Miracle: A catalyst for peace

Since the latter half of the 20th century, regional organisations have emerged in many of the worlds regions. Much focus has been devoted to the success story that is the European Union, yet another regional organisation deserves our recognition: ASEAN. It is hard to overstate ASEANs contributions to peace, prosperity and transnational cooperation across South East Asia. Its positive impact is felt by millions of peoples in what has traditionally been one of the more complex and divided regions of the world. This book is a timely reminder that regional organisations, and ASEAN in particular, are a vital feature of modern international architecture.

Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations

This book on ASEAN explains well how the pragmatic Indonesian philosophy of musyawarah and mufakat has been critical for ASEANs success. Indonesian leadership has led to the creation and development of one of the worlds most successful regional organizations, which has fundamentally transformed the geopolitics and geoeconomics of Southeast Asia. As ASEAN begins a new, possibly perilous, journey into the next fifty years, we should read this book as an indispensable guide to ASEANs future. We cannot take our success for granted. We have to work even harder to strengthen and, if necessary, reinvent ASEAN. This book explains how.

Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, sixth President of Indonesia

ASEAN has successfully maintained regional peace and security for almost five decades. I would attribute ASEANs unlikely success to two key factors. First, the founding leaders held firm to a shared vision to resolve differences among Southeast Asian countries quietly and face common threats together in order to secure and improve the livelihood of their peoples. However, in the early years following ASEANs founding, Summits were held infrequentlyin fact, ASEAN leaders met only three times up to 1990, the year I became Prime Minister. Second, succeeding generations of ASEAN leaders were able to work closely together for the common good of the region. We institutionalised annual ASEAN Summits, which became more structured. The increased opportunities for interaction bred familiarity among ASEAN leaders and made our interactions less formal. A slew of initiatives followed, starting with the ASEAN Free Trade Area which later led to the ASEAN Common Market, and the ASEAN + 3 and other Dialogues.

Nonetheless, ASEAN is not a frictionless, perfect organisation. There is much more ASEAN member states can do together, particularly to strengthen our cohesion in addressing regional challenges. Kishore and Jefferys book makes concrete proposals for ASEANs way forward: its a good read for those concerned with geopolitics and regional cooperation.

Goh Chok Tong, Emeritus Senior Minister, Singapore

ASEAN was born in Bangkok. Thailand can take great pride in the fact that this Thai baby has emerged as a world success story. Indeed, many significant ASEAN achievements were initiated by Thailand, including AFTA and ASEM. Kishore and Jeffery have done the world a huge favour in documenting this success story and in making concrete proposals to strengthen ASEAN further. This is a must-read for all who have interest in ASEAN affairs.

Anand Panyarachun, former Prime Minister of Thailand

Kishore and I have written that the world is coming together in a Fusion of Civilizations. This book documents beautifully how ASEAN has achieved this fusion. The ASEAN story is hugely instructive and this book tells it very well.

Lawrence W. Summers, President Emeritus of Harvard University and former US Secretary of the Treasury

We live in turbulent times. The global consensus in favour of open trade is eroding. Few of us speak up strongly and eloquently about the need to resist protectionism. This is why this volume on ASEAN is so timely. It describes how a Third World region has emerged as a dynamic economic powerhouse, thanks to open trade and economic integration. ASEAN, on track to become the fourth-largest economy in the world by 2050, can serve as a model. The authors also describe how ASEAN can be further strengthened institutionally. Its Secretariat clearly needs more resources. This book is a must-read for policymakers all around the world.

Pascal Lamy, former Director-General, World Trade Organization

ASEAN is an under-rated regional organization. Its progress year by year may seem slow. Sometimes, it appears even to go backwards. However, looking at Southeast Asia against the sweep of Cold War and post-Cold War history, ASEAN has been a remarkable success. Most importantly, it has kept relations among member-states harmonious despite occasional disputes. The integration of war-torn Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos into ASEAN has been relatively smooth. The peaceful transition of Myanmar from a military government to a democracy is a miracle which ASEAN made possible. ASEAN economies are now all benefiting from being increasingly integrated into an expanding Chinese economy which is on track to becoming the biggest in the world. The growth of India will be an added boost. Provided there is a larger peace, which will be a continuing test of ASEANs indispensable diplomacy, the prospect for ASEAN in the 21st century is bright. This is an excellent book by Kishore and Jeffery. It explains, in clear and simple terms, how and why ASEAN has become one of the most successful regional organizations in the world. Based on his long experience in ASEAN diplomacy, without making light of ASEANs weaknesses and mistakes, Kishore corrects a wrong view prevalent in Western writings that ASEAN is little more than a talk shop. Indeed, it is a catalyst for peace in Asia.

George Yeo, former Foreign Minister of Singapore

At a time when Western internationalism is in retreat, The ASEAN Miracle from Kishore Mahbubani and Jeffery Sng is a refreshingly hopeful reminder of how a group of small and developing countries can lead the way in building peace and progress. A powerful and passionate account of how, against all odds, ASEAN transformed the region and why Asia and the world need it even more today.

Amitav Acharya, Professor of International Relations at the School of International Service, American University

Two thousand years ago, an Indian wave swept through Southeast Asia. Today, India is about to take off again and resume its historical ties with the region. It has much to learn from ASEANs success, and this fine book is a good place to start.

Gurcharan Das, best-selling author of India Unbound and other books

Over the years, Kishore Mahbubani has been as eloquent and visionary as he has been tireless in championing Asias growing role in world affairs. In this impressive volume, Mahbubani and Sng tell the story of Southeast Asias ascent and the often underappreciated role of ASEAN as a regional provider of peace and stability. As the book makes clear, it is an unfinished storyASEAN is uniquely situated to work with regional and global great powers in the search for common ground, but ASEAN is also vulnerable to neglect and decline. In the end, the authors offer a powerful argument for a new era of ASEAN leadership.

G. John Ikenberry, Albert G. Milbank Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Princeton University

The ASEAN Miracle

2017 Kishore Mahbubani and Jeffery Sng

Published under the Ridge Books imprint by:

NUS Press

National University of Singapore

AS3-01-02, 3 Arts Link

Singapore 117569

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