Revisiting the Regional Integration of ASEAN: A Comparison with the EU

Abstract

This study provides a comparative analysis of regional integration processes in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) within the framework of Liberal Intergovernmentalism (LI). The formation of state preferences, the role of decision-making regimes, and the selective nature of integration in these two regional blocs are discussed. While both organizations have achieved substantial results in regional cooperation, they differ significantly in the depth and scope of their integration. ASEAN emphasizes the preservation of national sovereignty, resulting in limited progress, while the EU has achieved deep economic and political integration by delegating sovereign powers and empowering supranational institutions. The study also looks into the ongoing ASEAN in the changing global economic landscape, highlighting the increasing influence of economic interests, globalization, and the need for regional unity in the face of external challenges. In conclusion, while ASEAN and the EU have followed divergent paths of regional integration, they continue to evolve in response to internal and external dynamics.