Abstract A conventional/rationalist explanation holds that the ASEAN countries have begun to have open and frank discussions in order to deal with new challenges, such as economic and environmental issues, in an efficient way. Constructivists explain ASEAN’s change by focusing on the global normative shift, which emphasizes human rights and democracy. Introduction The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been changing in recent years. In their annual ministerial meetings and other settings, Southeast Asian countries are beginning to discuss issues of common concern in a relatively open and frank manner. Such candid discussions have the potential to contravene ASEAN’s traditional diplomatic norms. The ASEAN countries, in particular the five original members, for decades have been practicing a set of unique diplomatic norms—the “ASEAN Way”—whose elements include the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states. The ASEAN Way encourages theSoutheast Asian countries to seek an informal and incremental approach to cooperation through lengthy consultation and dialogue. The “comfort level” of members is an important precondition for ASEAN’s multilateral diplomacy, and members, for decades, have been pursuing dialogue without criticizing each other in public. However, in recent years member states have distanced themselves from strict adherence to the ASEAN Way. The Thai proposal for “flexible engagement” in 1998 was one of the starting points of the recent change in ASEAN diplomacy. In July 1998, then-Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan proposed that ASEAN adopt a policy of flexible engagement, which involves discussions of fellow members’ domestic policies. He held that issues affecting each other might be brought up and discussed by ASEAN members, without this being perceived as interference. The Thai Foreign Ministry maintained that flexible engagement would not violate the principle of noninterference. However, it was significant that Bangkok called for a modified interpretation of what counts as interference in the domestic affairs of ASEAN members. The Thai proposal itself was not supported by other members, except for the Philippines. Nevertheless, debate over the interpretation of the principle of non-interference has continued. Today, ASEAN has a framework called “Retreats,” in which matters of common concern are discussed frankly. The ministers held their first Retreat in July 1999 when they met for their regular annual meeting. They held another, separate from their regular annual meeting, in April 2001, and met again in July. The ministers had frank discussions on various issues such as regional security, intra- and inter-regional cooperation, and the future direction of ASEAN. In the ASEAN Ministerial Meetings (AMM) in 2002, the foreign ministers “reaffirmed the usefulness of informal, open and frank dialogue . . . to address issues of common concern to the region.” It is safe to say that the traditional diplomatic manner of ASEAN has been challenged, and ASEAN diplomacy has been changing. The principle of non-interference has been interpreted in a more flexible way. Why has this happened? Why has ASEAN diplomacy been changing? This is the key question to be explored in this article. To answer it, two supplemental problems are involved. First, this research should address whyit was in the late 1990s that ASEAN diplomacy began to change. Second, this study should also address the question of why some of the members have promoted a flexible interpretation of the non-interference principle, while others are rather reluctant to modify the ASEAN Way of diplomacy. Thailand and the Philippines have advocated changes in ASEAN’s traditional diplomatic style. Bangkok and Manila called for a policy of flexible engagement in the late 1990s. In contrast, among the original ASEAN members, Indonesia and Malaysia have been strong supporters of the traditional way. New ASEAN members in the 1990s such as Vietnam and Myanmar are also reluctant to change the interpretation of the ASEAN Way. Any explanation for ASEAN’s change should address the question of the difference within ASEAN. In order to address these questions, this article considers the plausibility of a conventional explanation that is supported by many authors. Such an explanation is in line with a rationalist perspective in international relations (IR). It holds that the recent change is ASEAN’s attempt to deal efficiently with various new challenges, including environmental problems, economic disruption, terrorism, drugs, and transnational crimes. These issues require a collective response; thus the open and frank discussions occur. This study reveals some limitations of this line of argument, while not completely rejecting its validity. The study attempts to offer an alternative account by taking a constructivist perspective. Today, the main debate in IR is between constructivists and rationalists, and in this ar
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