Regionalisation of peace in Asia : experiences and prospects of ASEAN, ARF and UN partnership

• Main Author: Anthony, Mely Caballero
• Other Authors: S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies
• Format: Working Paper
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Military and naval science::Strategy::Asia
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/79883; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/4444
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The end of the Cold War has renewed attention on regionalism and a reconsideration of the security role of regional security organizations in promoting international peace and security. However, the capacities of regional organizations differ, particularly when analysed within the general framework of peace operations. In Asia, for example, the nature and types of peace operations undertaken by regional organizations like ASEAN and the ARF have been remarkably different when compared with other regional organizations elsewhere. This paper examines the nature of peace operations in the Asia Pacific region and explores the possibilities for “partnership in peace” between the UN and ASEAN and the ARF. This paper argues that while peace operations in the region are mostly limited to conflict prevention, as exemplified by the types of mechanisms found in ASEAN and the ARF, these mechanisms have made modest yet valuable contribution towards regional stability. But in spite of this relative success, this paper also argues that the changing strategic environment requires a more pro-active engagement of ASEAN and the ARF which would involve reviewing and/or changing existing conflict prevention mechanisms to be more responsive to current challenges.