| This study began as an application of integration theory to the analysis of changing political-economic relations among a group of Southeast Asian countries. Theoretically and practically, a distinction emerged between Western models of integration and "integration" in the developing countries. In the latter, because of a history of political and economic dependency, and regional instability, the desire was not for regional integration in the sense of unification, but rather for regional cooperation, to realize the goals of national development, especially through the coordination of external relations.; In this case study of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), three areas of interest were identified for exploration in connection with regional cooperation: (1) the reduction of dependency--political and economic--on the few partners under whose control the region had been over the years; (2) the creation of regional security, externally in relation to global and regional powers, and internally through establishing peaceful relations and stability; (3) the achievement of economic development, in part through the coordination of external policies, and trade and investment relations.; Using the conceptual framework of integration studies, the status of ASEAN cooperation was evaluated. Certain economic relations (trade, investment and aid flows; treatise and negotiations), and political relations (issue settlements, arrangements and declarations) were considered, to determine the extent of cooperation and the degree to which development goals were achieved. It was found that although each of the countries was achieving progress economically, and had established a certain level of regional stability and security, foreign dependency still continued, although, for the years under study, there was a general shift from dominance by the U.S. and the EEC to dominance by Japan. Despite continued external dependency, steps were also taken to increase regional interdependence among the members in certain areas of trade, industry and political matters.; The case study helped to reconstruct integration theory, adapting it to explain cooperation among developing countries, taking account of the significant role of external relations in cooperative efforts. Cooperation through coordination of limited and relevant external policies appears to be a more viable approach than political and economic unification, if the goal is development. Further, under conditions of high external dependence and low intra-regional transactions, it is necessary to establish a sense of regional security by being mutually responsive to each other's political-military needs, before significant external policy coordination can take place. |
