Jeje's Essay for 28th PSNMHII Universitas Riau (2016)
Cultural Diversity in The Aspect of Regional Integration:
The ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)
decided to unity their member states into the ASEAN Community. The ASEAN
leaders adopted the Declaration of ASEAN Concord II (Bali Concord II) in Bali,
Indonesia on 7 October 2003 to establish an ASEAN Community by 2020, but at the
12th ASEAN Summit on 13th January 2007 in Cebu, the
Philippines the Leaders, affirming their strong commitment to accelerate the
establishment of the ASEAN Community by 2015[2].
In an
integration, the members who belong to it doesn’t always have something in
common but, the integration represents the unity of differences that exist. The
ASEAN region displays diversity their member states, like the most dominant is cultural
diversity (cultural expressions, the richness of values, beliefs, traditions,
language and ways of life).
But, it is not easy for any member states which has
cultural diversity to blend and become the one entity in essence of ASEAN. This
condition is often considered as a threat for territorial integrity in this
case ASEAN region and feared could lead to weak regional integration. There
are sense of selfish in terms of individual nasionalization still occurs today
between member states that potentially raised friction among member states and decrease
the spirit of one community in ASEAN. The most obvious example is interaction
between the people of Indonesia and Malaysia which often fighting about accusation
of cultural theft.
In fact, the diversity in a region doesn’t always have
a negative impact, but unwittingly, a region have an identity that will be a
power for faced the global competition if their people can recive an
integration. Therefore, In ASEAN Communtity formed the pillars that
specifically set and discuss about diversity.
The
ASEAN
Socio-Cultural Community on Building Identity
The
13th ASEAN Summit held in singapore on 20th November
2007, agreed to develop an ASCC (ASEAN
Sosio-Cultural Community). ASCC
have a blueprint which there are action plans that will implemented later and
include functional cooperation as the tools.
In ASCC on building identity, there are four
major agenda. One of major agenda is Promotion
of ASEAN awareness and a sense of community. The Promotion of ASEAN awareness and a sense of community have
22 work
lines to increase the ASEAN awareness to all people of ASEAN that we are one
vision, one identity, and one community .
With
this agenda, ASEAN will mainstream and promote greater awarenes and common
values in the spirit of unity in diversityat all levels of society[3].
ASEAN
Socio-Cultural Community as one of three pillars of ASEAN Community based on
unity and diversity and sense of community (we feeling) provide opportunities
for the ASEAN member to improve the cultural and social identity[4].
Sense of Community by McMillan dan Chavis is “a
feeling that all of members have a sense of belonging to each
other, a feeling where all of members is care to each other and to their group,
and shared the beliefs that the requirement of members can be reached through
their commitment to joint”.
In order to
realize all listed in ASCC Blueprint, the whole of ASEAN Community should
create we feeling and sense of community so that it will
develop into a Caring and
sharing Community[5].
Declaration on ASEAN Unity in Cultural Diversity: Toward
Strengthening ASEAN Community
After ASCC
formulated on 2007, it
is necessary to have a formal agreement to regulate diversity especially
cultural diversity in the ASEAN region. Therefore, The Ministers
Responsible for Culture and Arts of the ASEAN Member States
made a declaration namely Declaration on ASEAN Unity in Cultural Diversity: Toward
Strengthening ASEAN Community.
If we talk about the legal aspect of cultural
diversity in ASEAN, we have to see it from this declaration on
the occasion of the 19th ASEAN Summit in Bali, Indonesia on 17th
November, 2011. All of the work line in ASCC is very guided by this declaration.
From
those declarations obviously we know that declaration should be built in every
country in order to protect and
promotion of cultural diversity In the ASEAN although those declarations formally not binding.
After that, every country that has ratified the declaration must responsible
for all of the activity about cultural diversity to strengthen ASEAN integration and cooperation. It will be better if all member states can
respect the culture of each other.
Recomendation
Today,
The ASCC is begin. Before
a full take off, Asean leaders may consider asking whether there really is an
“ASEAN mindset” among the peoples of Southeast Asia because if there’s lacking,
or none at all, a foreseeable trouble might bring 'disintegration' instead of
'integration', and the Asean leadership must share a big blame[6].
ASCC
is a pillar of support for the two other pillars considering ASEAN Community implemented based on people centered so that the people
needs to prepared. The ASEAN leaders and the government of
each member states should facilitate the community to increase awarenes of
ASEAN because the ASEAN as an entity must be owned by all of the Southeast
Asian citizens, and not by their leaders.
The nations were also urged to use
culture as a tool to build a harmonious and progressive society. There are many
ways to do that is to socialized the ASCC blueprint at least they participated
mainly on building ASEAN identity. For the government of each member states or
we had already know about ASCC have an obligation to give suggestion s about ‘we feeling and sense of community’ or
with a simple way to socialize slogan “We are ASEAN”. Thus, can be created
solidarity and unity through joint commitments and collective responsibility
for peace, stability and prosperity based on the principles of respecting
independence, sovereignty, not intervening in other countries’ internal affairs
and helping each other to overcome difficulties without impositions although we
have some of difference specifically in cultural.
Reference
Directorat General of ASEAN Cooperatioan, 2015, ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint,
Jakarta: Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Directorat Cooperatioan. 2015. Ayo Kenali ASEAN “Asean adalah Kita. Jakarta: Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.General of ASEAN
Tundjung
Linggarwati, 2012. Asean Socio-Cultural Community; Peluang Bagi
Pengembangan Diplomasi Berbasis Kearifan Lokal. Purwokerto: Jendral
Sudirman University.
Asean
Selayang Pandang. Available from http:/www.kemlu.go.id/Documents/ASEAN%20Selayang%20Pandang.doc, accessed on Januari, 31, 2016.
Joselito Narciso B
Caparino, 2014. Unity amidst diversity toward 'stronger'
ASEAN Community, Philippines in http://www.globalethicsnetwork.org/m/blogpost?id=6428686%3ABlogPost%3A40323
accessed on february, 1, 2016.
[1] this essay is given in International Relation, Pasundan University
as a requirement selection become delegation of PSNMHII in Riau University.
Bandung, february 6, 2016.
[2]Directorat General of
ASEAN Cooperatioan, ASEAN Socio-Cultural
Community Blueprint, (Jakarta: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2015) page 56.
[3] Ibid.
[4]Tundjung
Linggarwati, Asean Socio-Cultural Community; Peluang Bagi
Pengembangan Diplomasi Berbasis Kearifan Lokal, (Purwokerto: Jendral
Sudirman University, 2012) Page. 903
[5] Asean Selayang Pandang, accessed on Januari, 31, 2016 in
http:/www.kemlu.go.id/Documents/ASEAN%20Selayang%20Pandang.doc, page 60.
[6]
Joselito Narciso B
Caparino, Unity amidst diversity toward 'stronger' ASEAN Community,
(Philippines: 2014), accessed on february, 1, 2016 in http://www.globalethicsnetwork.org/m/blogpost?id=6428686%3ABlogPost%3A40323
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