ABSTRACT
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was among the early regional organisations to bring together some (originally five) Asian nation-states, which was formed in 1967. It has grown since into a ten-member organisation. It has succeeded in maintaining peace and promoting prosperity in the region. It has emerged as the backbone of regional international politics and the centre of numerous regional co-operation initiatives and groups that evolved in Southeast Asia, particularly after the end of the Cold War. The SAARC was formed in 1985 and sought to bring together seven South Asian states. It is now an eight-member group. While the organisation continues to exist and hold meetings at different levels, it has not seen success like the ASEAN. Different historical and geographical factors and different political realities of the regional countries are some of the reasons why the experiences of the two Asian regional organisations have been markedly different from each other. This chapter analyses these reasons. It further explores the challenges faced by the phenomenon of regionalism in contemporary times, when globalisation (but not exactly regionalism) is facing a setback. It reviews the efforts taken by both ASEAN and SAARC to stay relevant to the changing politico-security realities of their respective regions. And it suggests some measures whereby regionalism in both South and Southeast Asia will achieve this.
