“NORMATIVE POWER” OF ASEAN: A SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION

Abstract

The notion of “normative power”, authored by Ian J. Manners, is usually applied to the European Union (EU). It describes the ability to impose one’s norms and values over other states, shaping the conventional understanding of what is “normal” in international relations. However, this notion is not exclusive to the EU: this article argues that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is another regional grouping that tries to disseminate its norms and values worldwide, thus transforming itself into a nascent “normative power”. ASEAN promotes the so-called “Asian values” (collectivism, state paternalism, cultural relativism, non-intervention into each other’s domestic affairs, etc.) through interregional arrangements with other states and international groupings, as well as through multilateral forums where it plays the central role. However, the concept of “Asian values” evokes much criticism that makes the transformation of ASEAN into a “normative power” highly questionable.