A Study On The ASEAN Integration Way After Financial Crisis Of Southeast Asia

Integration is a multi-dimensional process, which involves politics -economics , military , culture, etc. Which one could be chosed as the core of integration significantly affects the regional process. As a regional integration organization since 1967, ASEAN has been enjoying the great success achieved in the past 30 years while starting to face tougher and tougher challenges and struggling to advance. Generally speaking, ASEAN has developed into an important regional organization with improving degree of integration; it lays great effects on the business of the Asia & Pacific Ocean region and even the world. In the process of ASEAN integration, it has not only gone through all of the hard times , frustration and even failure, accumulated all of the experiences, but also carefully studied and learned from the integration theories that have been used in other systems, especially the integration theories of EU.This article analyzes the changes of ASEAN integration before and after the Southeast Asia financial crisis. Before the crisis, ASEAN focused on developing the integration mainly politically; and ASEAN has overcome some difficulties and had some success. However, due to the lack of economical cooperation and integration, it didn't develop sufficient impetus. It also caused the rise of conflicts among its members, as what emerged during the Southeast Asia financial crisis. In addition, the crisis has brought more problems and challenges into the system, and slowed down the development of ASEAN integration even more. But, ASEAN will not disintegrate because it represents the interests of all members of the ASEAN, and also there has now been great dependence on each other among ASEAN members during its development in the past 30 years.After the financial crisis, ASEAN has determined to focus on development of economical integration. Every member of ASEAN is trying hard and carrying on reforms and restructures in many areas boldly and resolutely. This article illustrates,both theoretically and practically, that the adjustment is a rational change. Theoretically, new functionalism points out that integration must begin with economical integration. Practically, the experience of the EU and the earlier success appeared right after ASEAN shifted its focus to develop economical integration have both indicated it as a right change.