ABSTRACT
This chapter poses the question of the effectiveness of security regionalism, with particular reference to Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands region. In recent decades regional organizations and groupings have emerged as an important element of international politics. Many of these organizations see themselves as contributing, either explicitly or implicitly, to the security of the regions within which they are located. There is a general issue as to whether this has in fact been the case. Assessing this issue involves a number of different dimensions. Given the broadening in the understanding of security, one needs to keep in mind the range of situations where regional organizations and groupings might be relevant. Then there is the question of how one judges effectiveness. Is it a matter of providing solutions to situations that arise? Or is it more to do with influencing norms so that situations do not arise (or are less likely to arise) in the first place? Taking into account both possibilities, one also needs to ask what factors lead to regional organizations or groupings being effective or not in dealing with security issues.
