Page 12 - The Ethics of ASEAN

The Ethics of ASEAN

Note to the reader
Writing the first book specifically on the ethics of ASEAN has been a humbling but
rewarding experience. The purpose of this book is to provide a reference for readers
interested in ASEAN – both working professionals and students alike. You may wonder if
there is indeed an ethics for this diverse region, how those ethics have evolved and what
ASEAN institutions and organisations are responsible for ASEAN ethics. Also, you may
wonder why, on some issues, the region seems unable to agree on an ethical decision or
take ethical action. I try to answer those questions in this book.
Part of what you can expect to find in this book is best explained by saying what it
is not. It is not a textbook on ethics. Textbooks are meant to cover all ethical topics but
current ethics textbooks in English are often dominated by Western philosophy and issues,
never mentioning any ethical sources at all from Southeast Asia. This book fills that gap.
The second thing this book is not is an encyclopaedia of all the ethical ideas and values
of Southeast Asia. It is about ASEAN as a community of nations, an economic, social and
cultural entity rather than the vast and diverse mix of ethnic groups, religious doctrines
and changing social trends. Third, this book is not a comparison of ASEAN ethics with
that of neighbouring countries, global superpowers or other regional organisations like
the European Union. I tried to stick to ethical issues and discussions about the region and
in the region. Finally, this book is descriptive rather than prescriptive. I have not made
pronouncements on where ASEAN is right and wrong, or what ASEAN should do. That said,
the book is not ethically neutral. I do not fall back on the ethical relativism of describing
right and wrong as just a point of view. Ethical judgments are made in describing cases
that violate or contradict ASEAN’s Human Rights Declaration or are clearly detrimental to
the human development of ASEAN citizens and residents.
What is new in this book? You will find a description of ASEAN’s ethical evolution
and a model of types of ethics at work in ASEAN in Part One. This includes case studies
where ASEAN has become paralysed because of conflicting ethical types. Also new in
Part Two are the 44 ASEAN ethical explanations and perspectives of representatives on
8 topics. The full dialogues are also available in video webinars. Part Three provides a
new description of ethical risk for ASEAN and an analysis of how ASEAN can successfully
develop its ethical capability in the future.
For the reader, it should be clear that this book is a kind of beginning for
understanding the ethics of ASEAN. It is not the final word. There will certainly be more to
come from ASEAN ethics thought leaders.

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