Page 413 - SSB Interview: The Complete Guide, Second Edition

In the 1960s, the push for decolonisation promoted the sovereignty of
Indonesia and Malaysia among others. Since nation-building is often messy
and vulnerable to foreign intervention, the governing elite wanted to be free
to implement independent policies with the knowledge that neighbours would

refrain from interfering in their domestic affairs. Territorially small members
such as Singapore and Brunei were consciously fearful of force and coercive

measures from much bigger neighbours like Indonesia and Malaysia.
Through political dialogue and confidence-building, no tension has escalated
into armed confrontation among ASEAN member countries since its

establishment more than three decades ago.

The ASEAN Way can be traced back to the signing of the Treaty of Amity
and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. Fundamental principles adopted from this
included:

mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial

integrity and national identity of all nations;

the right of every State to lead its national existence free from external
interference, subversion or coercion;

non-interference in the internal affairs of one another;
settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful manner;

renunciation of the threat or use of force; and

effective cooperation among themselves.

On the surface, the process of consultations and consensus is supposed to
be a democratic approach to decision-making, but the ASEAN process has

been managed through close interpersonal contacts among the top leaders
only, who often share a reluctance to institutionalise and legalise cooperation

which can undermine their regime’s control over the conduct of regional
cooperation. Thus, the organisation is chaired by the secretariat.

All of these features, namely, the non-interference, informality, minimal

institutionalisation, consultation and consensus, non-use of force and non-
confrontation have constituted what is called the ASEAN Way. This ASEAN
Way has recently proven itself relatively successful in the settlement of