Georgia Tech Model United Nations Conference

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional body which strives to enhance nation building among its members and to promote regional stability and peace in Southeast Asia. The body was founded in 1967 by five Southeast Asian states (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand). Since the time of its establishment, ASEAN’s membership has grown to ten member states. As with other regional bodies, frequent meetings are held by the member nations to ensure a constant dialogue and to promote their shared objectives. The Formal Summits of ASEAN are held annually between the heads of state of the member nations. These meetings have shown success in promoting regional economic cooperation and deterring aggression between states but have met with great criticism in their failure ensure internationally accepted human rights. Efforts have been made to expand the membership of ASEAN to include many of the more authoritative powers of the region. In 1999, ASEAN Plus Three was institutionalize as a meeting between the members of ASEAN and People’s Republic of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. In 2005, the more encompassing East Asian Summit (EAS) was founded. This group expanded upon the membership of ASEAN Plus Three to include Australia, India and New Zealand. The Russian Federation, Pakistan, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, and the European Union have been proposed for membership in the future. The ASEAN Regional Forum was formed in 1994 and is the most comprehensive body within the region of Southeast Asia. This body, though somewhat less institutionalized than other components of ASEAN, includes the membership of ASEAN and all of its “dialogue partners,” bringing the total membership to 27. The objective of the ASEAN Regional Forum is to ensure the use of diplomacy and dialogue to resolve regional disputes and build its members. Meetings of this body are chaired by the Chairman of the ASEAN Standing Committee.