TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
JACOBO Z. GONZALES MEMORIAL SCHOOL OF ARTS AND TRADES
THE CONTEMPORARY
WORLD
Ms. Jovelyn C. Vistan
Week 12 – Week 14
Contents:
Unit 4: Political Systems
• Lesson 1: The Continent of the
World
• Lesson 2: Asian Regionalism
• Lesson 3: Global Interstate System
Lesson 2
Asian Regionalism
“More than just a regional community, ASEAN must be
a dynamic force in Asia towards maximizing the benefits
of globalization... uplifting the poor in
our region.”
-Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Former President of the Philippines
ASEAN is a strong group in Asia that helps
its member countries work together. It uses
systems like the ASEAN Charter and ASEAN
Community to support economic growth,
social progress, and regional unity. ASEAN
also aims to make the most of globalization
and improve the lives of the poor in Southeast
Asia.
Pair Activity
Video Analysis: Watch the video. Express your
learning about the importance of cooperation
inside three boxes.
Abstraction
Definition of Regionalism (Mace and Therien, 1996):
• Regionalism is a process that takes place in a specific
geographic area.
• It promotes the development of shared core values and norms
among different participants.
• These participants include: (1) Nation-states (e.g., Philippines,
Japan, etc.), (2) Regional institutions (e.g., ASEAN, APEC), (3)
Societal groups (e.g., civil society, communities), and (4) Non-
state actors (e.g., NGOs, businesses, interest groups)
Abstraction
Definition of Regionalism (Mace and Therien, 1996):
• The goal is to build voluntary partnerships and combine
resources to create common systems and structures for
cooperation.
• This process helps establish similar functional (how things
work) and organizational (how things are managed)
frameworks across countries.
Abstraction
Fields Where Regionalism Happens:
• Regionalism takes place in many areas, including business,
finance, science, politics, diplomacy, and the military. In
Asia, it is often shaped by competition, national rivalries,
and different views of what the region should be. Despite
strong ties with many Asian countries, Australia has been
left out of some important regional projects.
Abstraction
• Tensions in Asia—like the China-Japan rivalry, South China
Sea disputes, the USA-China conflict, and India’s
strategies—make regional cooperation more difficult.
While regionalization refers to growing interaction
between neighboring countries, it doesn’t always mean
they will form a united regional group, which is the goal of
regionalism.
Evolution of Asian Regionalism
It will be most beneficial to use four milestone years –
1967, 1989, 1997, and 2005 to chart the development of
Asian regionalism (Shiraishi, 2011).
10 countries in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
ASEAN (1967)
ASEAN was founded in 1967 by Indonesia, the Philippines,
Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore to promote regional
unity and counter communism, especially during the
Vietnam War. The founding members focused on
economic cooperation to fight poverty, attract foreign
investment, and maintain stability.
ASEAN (1967)
In 1976, the first ASEAN summit in Bali led to the adoption
of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, which
emphasized respect for sovereignty, non-interference,
and peaceful conflict resolution. Over time, ASEAN
expanded to include all Southeast Asian nations and
formalized its goals through the ASEAN Charter in 2008,
strengthening its institutional foundation.
Interesting Fact about ASEAN:
ASEAN is one of the most diverse regional organizations
in the world, with its 10 member countries representing
over 650 million people, more than 1,000 ethnic groups,
and hundreds of languages—yet it operates on the
principle of consensus, meaning all decisions must be
agreed upon by all members. This makes diplomacy and
unity essential to its success.
Countries in Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
APEC (1989)
The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) was
founded in 1989 to promote transparent and efficient
economic relations in the Asia-Pacific region. Its idea was
first proposed in the 1960s–70s by Saburo Okita and John
Crawford. Supported strongly by the United States, APEC
was created mainly for economic reasons and had a
technocratic nature.
APEC (1989)
APEC includes a wide range of members, from East Asian
countries like Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines to
countries like the U.S., Canada, and Australia. Over time,
others like China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong joined. However,
APEC members differ greatly in geography, economy,
politics, and culture, which makes it hard to build a strong
regional identity.
China, Japan, and South Korea
ASEAN Plus Three (1997)
The ASEAN Plus Three was formed in 1997 with Japan,
South Korea, and China as its founding members. As
neighboring economic powers, their cooperation made
sense, though early talks were challenged by cultural
differences like strong respect for rank and etiquette. In
the early 2000s, globalization led to over half of their trade
being within the region.
Profits and Advantages of Asian
Regionalism
Asian regionalism helps countries in Asia work together
to improve their economies and solve common problems.
• It reduces inequality by improving roads, bridges,
and internet connections.
For example, better roads between Thailand and Laos
help people trade and travel more easily.
• Countries can team up to fight shared problems like
diseases or disasters.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, ASEAN members
shared medical supplies and information.
• It helps economies grow by combining their
strengths.
Japan shares technology, while countries like Vietnam
provide labor and manufacturing.
• When countries connect their banks and financial
markets, it becomes safer and cheaper to borrow
money.
If one country’s economy slows down, others can help
by sharing investments.
• By planning together, they can avoid big problems.
If one country’s currency drops, neighbors can adjust
policies to keep the region stable.
• It also helps the world by spreading trade and
demand more evenly.
If the U.S. economy slows down, strong trade within
Asia can keep global trade moving.
• Working together brings new ideas and competition.
Companies in South Korea, Singapore, and Indonesia
challenge each other to innovate.
Individual Activity
Impact Analysis: Search the positive impacts of
the Regional Organizations of which the
Philippines is part. Give at least 2 for each
organization.
Individual Activity
Organization Positive Impact
1. ASEAN
2. ASEAN Plus Three
3. APEC
