Parallel Evolution of Practice and Research on ASEAN Economic Integration From Paradigm Contestation to Eclectic Theorization
Since the beginning of the 21st century, ASEAN has deepened its regional economic integration with its member states showing a confidence to build the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015. Throughout the history, ASEAN, as a regional organization, has contributed to the formation of the region, including its identity, power relations, economic policies, and diplomatic cultures. In what ways have researchers tried to understand the evolution of ASEAN's economic integration? How have theoretical discussions been brought to explain the development of ASEAN? It is often argued that contestations among different theories illustrate the lack of relevance in applying a particular theory to explain the dynamics of ASEAN economic integration. This study, however, argues that periodization of the historical development of ASEAN regional economic integration correlates with the meta theoretical development on the subject. It also argues that ASEAN's dynamics of multifaceted multilevel integration would provide a case suitable for theoretical eclecticism in comprehending the subject.