Colonialism and ASEAN identity : inherited "mental barriers" hindering the formation of a collective ASEAN identity

As ASEAN enters its sixth decade of existence, one common question that is often asked is whether a collective ASEAN identity can be truly developed among the political elites and citizens of the nation-states of Southeast Asia. However, it appears that there is still the absence of a sentiment o...

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Main Author: Lee, Jun Jie
Other Authors: Badrol Hisham Bin Ahmad Noor
Format: Theses and Dissertations
Language:English
Published: 2018
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10356/75909
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Institution: Nanyang Technological University
Language: English
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spelling sg-ntu-dr.10356-759092020-11-01T08:31:43Z Colonialism and ASEAN identity : inherited "mental barriers" hindering the formation of a collective ASEAN identity Lee, Jun Jie Badrol Hisham Bin Ahmad Noor S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies DRNTU::Social sciences::Political science::Political institutions::Asia As ASEAN enters its sixth decade of existence, one common question that is often asked is whether a collective ASEAN identity can be truly developed among the political elites and citizens of the nation-states of Southeast Asia. However, it appears that there is still the absence of a sentiment of “we-feeling” and regional “consciousness” that is required for the formation of a genuine, collective regional identity. As argued by some scholars, ASEAN remains an imitation community. A puzzle thus emerged. Why has ASEAN been unable to fulfill its goals of “One Vision, One Identity, One Community” as articulated in its ASEAN Vision 2020? This dissertation takes a constructivist approach in its attempt to explore the complex interaction of historical forces that have led to the creation of “mental barriers” hindering the formation of a collective ASEAN identity. In particular, this dissertation will discuss how colonialism has defined the nation-state based on exclusivity and erased any memory of pre-colonial affinities and collective past that could have served as the foundation of a genuine regional identity. This dissertation would argue that the “ASEAN Identity” and “ASEAN Community” will continue to exist only in form but not in substance if the political elites and people of Southeast Asia do not take a “mental leap” to reimagine the region and their identities. Master of Science (Asian Studies) 2018-07-27T03:14:04Z 2018-07-27T03:14:04Z 2018 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10356/75909 en 72 p. application/pdf
institution Nanyang Technological University
building NTU Library
continent Asia
country Singapore
Singapore
content_provider NTU Library
collection DR-NTU
language English
topic DRNTU::Social sciences::Political science::Political institutions::Asia
spellingShingle DRNTU::Social sciences::Political science::Political institutions::Asia
Lee, Jun Jie
Colonialism and ASEAN identity : inherited "mental barriers" hindering the formation of a collective ASEAN identity
description As ASEAN enters its sixth decade of existence, one common question that is often asked is whether a collective ASEAN identity can be truly developed among the political elites and citizens of the nation-states of Southeast Asia. However, it appears that there is still the absence of a sentiment of “we-feeling” and regional “consciousness” that is required for the formation of a genuine, collective regional identity. As argued by some scholars, ASEAN remains an imitation community. A puzzle thus emerged. Why has ASEAN been unable to fulfill its goals of “One Vision, One Identity, One Community” as articulated in its ASEAN Vision 2020? This dissertation takes a constructivist approach in its attempt to explore the complex interaction of historical forces that have led to the creation of “mental barriers” hindering the formation of a collective ASEAN identity. In particular, this dissertation will discuss how colonialism has defined the nation-state based on exclusivity and erased any memory of pre-colonial affinities and collective past that could have served as the foundation of a genuine regional identity. This dissertation would argue that the “ASEAN Identity” and “ASEAN Community” will continue to exist only in form but not in substance if the political elites and people of Southeast Asia do not take a “mental leap” to reimagine the region and their identities.
author2 Badrol Hisham Bin Ahmad Noor
author_facet Badrol Hisham Bin Ahmad Noor
Lee, Jun Jie
format Theses and Dissertations
author Lee, Jun Jie
author_sort Lee, Jun Jie
title Colonialism and ASEAN identity : inherited "mental barriers" hindering the formation of a collective ASEAN identity
title_short Colonialism and ASEAN identity : inherited "mental barriers" hindering the formation of a collective ASEAN identity
title_full Colonialism and ASEAN identity : inherited "mental barriers" hindering the formation of a collective ASEAN identity
title_fullStr Colonialism and ASEAN identity : inherited "mental barriers" hindering the formation of a collective ASEAN identity
title_full_unstemmed Colonialism and ASEAN identity : inherited "mental barriers" hindering the formation of a collective ASEAN identity
title_sort colonialism and asean identity : inherited "mental barriers" hindering the formation of a collective asean identity
publishDate 2018
url http://hdl.handle.net/10356/75909
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