ABSTRACT
This chapter, by revolving around the history of Southeast Asia, aims to demonstrate the historical parallels of ancient Southeast Asia system and ASEAN regionalism by taking the similar roles of former central powers and Indonesia. As a consequence, we can consider ASEAN as an extension of ancient Southeast Asia system and Indonesia as its new centre. It is not a necessity for ASEAN to resemble other regionalism examples in the world and Indonesia does not compulsorily need to embrace a similar role with India in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) or South Africa in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
