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Unraveling the Logic of ASEAN's Decision‐Making: Theoretical Analysis and Case Examination
Author(s) -
Chiou Yihung
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
asian politics and policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.193
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 1943-0787
pISSN - 1943-0779
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-0787.2010.01199.x
Subject(s) - political science , southeast asia , association (psychology) , positive economics , sociology , epistemology , economics , ethnology , philosophy
Throughout its history, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has based decisions on consensus and consultation, producing a loosely defined, weak regional organization. The results of nonbinding and watered‐down resolutions make substantial progress for ASEAN difficult. This article explores the logic of ASEAN's decision‐making by applying rational choice theory. It argues that the characteristics of ASEAN's decision‐making mechanism allow member states to base their actions on how individual nations perceive their interests to be best served by group resolutions. By constructing a series of hypotheses to pattern ASEAN's decision‐making, this article examines four cases and how players resolved each. The findings suggest that the constraints of group decision‐making and divergent interests between member states play a major role in shaping the effectiveness of resolutions.