Question

Explain any three features of the 'ASEAN'.

Hint:

ASEAN is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, formed in 1967. Write three features: its aims, the ASEAN Way, and the ASEAN Community with three pillars.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understand the question:
ASEAN stands for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It is a regional organisation of Southeast Asian countries.
The question carries 6 marks and asks for any three features, so each feature needs a heading and a short explanation of about two marks.

Step 2: Feature 1: Formation and aims:
ASEAN was set up in 1967 at Bangkok by five countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. This is known as the Bangkok Declaration.
Its main aims are to speed up economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region.
It also aims to protect regional peace and stability on the basis of the rule of law. Later, five more countries joined, so it now has ten members.

Step 3: Feature 2: The ASEAN Way:
ASEAN follows a style of working called the ASEAN Way. It means informal, non-confrontational and cooperative dealings among members.
Members respect the sovereignty of each other and do not interfere in internal matters. Decisions are taken by consensus, not by force.
This style helped nations with very different political systems to sit together without fear.

Step 4: Feature 3: ASEAN Community and its three pillars:
ASEAN Vision 2020 gave the idea of an ASEAN Community. It rests on three pillars: the ASEAN Security Community, the ASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.
The Security Community works for peaceful solving of disputes, and the ASEAN Regional Forum, started in 1994, discusses regional security.
The Economic Community aims at a common market and production base, so that goods, services and investment flow freely among the members.

Final Answer:
Three features of ASEAN are: (1) formed in 1967 with aims of economic, social and cultural growth and regional peace, (2) the informal, consensus-based ASEAN Way with non-interference, and (3) the ASEAN Community built on security, economic and socio-cultural pillars.