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Integration Theory and ASEAN Integration
Author(s) -
Kim Minhyung
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
pacific focus
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.172
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 1976-5118
pISSN - 1225-4657
DOI - 10.1111/pafo.12035
Subject(s) - intergovernmentalism , feature integration theory , relevance (law) , economic integration , order (exchange) , european integration , political science , international trade , economics , psychology , european union , law , cognitive psychology , finance
In recognition of the paucity of compelling theories of A sian integration, this article focuses on ASEAN and revisits the two major theories of E uropean integration (i.e. neofunctionalism and liberal intergovernmentalism) in order to assess their relevance for ASEAN integration. The main research finding is that, contrary to the conventional wisdom, neofunctionalism and liberal intergovernmentalism do offer important insights for developing a compelling theory of ASEAN integration. This finding suggests that scholars of ASEAN integration should be more open to the experience of E uropean integration and consider how to take advantage of the insights of neofunctionalism and liberal intergovernmentalism for the theory‐building of ASEAN integration, instead of discarding them as completely irrelevant.