ABSTRACT
Although the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has explicitly promoted cooperation among its members in terms of policy, the overall picture tends to be one of divergence rather than convergence. This is partly explained by the political context as for most of ASEAN rule by military or civil bureaucracy or both, rather than rule by party is the norm.However, the main objective of ASEAN, which is to enhance regional cooperation looks more likely to be achieved through the ASEAN Resource Centers (ARCs) and the dissemination of best practice, rather than through any conscious attempt at the impossible task of converging administrative systems.
