Inter-regionalism: the European Union and ASEAN

Much of the literature on regionalism has revolved around the European integration project. Inter-regionalism in the form of group-to-group dialogue was also “pioneered” by the European Community from the 1970s. The European Union’s relations with ASEAN is a good case study to look at the evolution of inter-regionalism both from a theoretical and empirical perspective. Empirically, tracing the development of EU-ASEAN relations from the 1970s to the present day reminds us of the importance of the broader geopolitical environment and big power politics that shape regionalism and inter-regionalism. From technocratic inter-regionalism to contested and then pragmatic inter-regionalism, EU-ASEAN relations are a microcosm of norms and power contestation. As the world enters into a more complex and volatile phase with heightened geopolitical tensions, the EU and ASEAN are entering inter-regionalism 4.0. It will be fraught with political minefields and trade-offs that have to be carefully managed for a productive partnership.