The proceedings of the second seminar in the series of ASEAN-COCI project on the subject of 'Cultures in ASEAN and the 21st Century' which are presented here are the results of the meeting held in Kuching, Sarawak from 13 to 16 May 1997.

Escaping the economic and security-centered approaches, prevalent in contemporary U.S. debate the contributors explore political relations between the European Union (EU) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).Their inter-disciplinary perspectives touch on domains such as security, comparative integration, human rights, energy.

This research focuses on the relationship between ideological views and regional integration within the Association of South-East Asian Nations and its member states. The ASEAN bloc is of particular interest largely because it has become a force to recognise after the European Union as one of the powerful and effective regional institutions in the 21st century. This research utilised a mixed-method research methodology approach. It has been discussed in this research that ASEAN has been successful on the economic pillar compared to the political and social structures. Although colonialism and imperialism had devastating effects on ASEAN like in any other formerly colonised regions it has been identified that it is modern ASEAN's drive and adaptability that has inspired the top six performing states in ASEAN to be forces to recognise as well. The top-performing economies include Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam whose economic miracle and progressive drive has shocked the world just like the German and Japanese economic miracles during the 20th century after the Second World War. It is also important to take note that belonging to a highly successful regional organisation does not mean economic development for a member state unless effective steps to eliminate corruption and promote transparency have been put in place side by side with a progressive and effective economic development master plan. Effective legal, political, social and economic institutions at national and local levels among a bloc's party states result in a spillover effect that positively affects regional development and integration as well. Based on the statistics up until 2020 the South East Asian states of Brunei, Cambodia, Laos PDR and Myanmar need to come up with more pragmatic policies so that they too experience the Midas Touch their fellow Asians have experienced. Whilst natural resources are important for a state they must not be the primary foundation that determines a state's success but instead progressive and effective institutional frameworks. It is therefore the main argument of this research that culture influences development to a great extent. The research uses the Liberalism theory as far as institutionalism is concerned. Indeed the Pygmalion effect is a reality as can be seen in the continuous rise of the top six performing nations who have brought their ideals in running the ASEAN bloc to be a top contender ranked in the top ten (10) trillion economies in the same ranks of China, Japan, France, Germany and USA. In this research, it is largely recommended that ASEAN unite in dealing with the great powers and that effective action be taken for party states to have common values and ideals.Overview1 - The Origins and History of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (20th and 21st Century)2 - Functions, Duties and the Effectiveness of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Bloc3 - The Colonial Legacy, Globalisation and Liberalism on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations's Development4 - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations's International Relations 5 - Regional Ideologies Promoting Development: The Concepts of ASEAN Identity and the ASEAN Way6 - Challenges and Threats faced in ASEAN's Quest for Development and Advancement in International Affairs

Papers presented at a three day international seminar held at Tirupati in October 2003.

This book is a study of the attitudes to political and social life among the citizens of eighteen countries in Western Europe, East and Southeast Asia. Drawing on data from the largest cross-national survey on political culture for the last half a century, this book assesses how political culture differs across the two regions and whether this can be drawn back to a profound difference in basic societal values, or ‘Asian values’. Examining geographical, religious and socio-economic factors, the authors discuss whether there genuinely is a common political value in the two regions or a profound difference as these countries move towards modernity. This original and comprehensive study of the values, norms and beliefs held by citizens of the East and West will appeal to students and scholars of political culture and comparative politics, as well as Asian and European politics.

This unique book provides both Asian and European perspectives on a diversity of topics concerning the relationship between Asia and Europe. There are in-depth analyses of the most crucial issues including historical and cultural links, political aspects and linkages, and economic partnerships.