Directory of Past Research Projects

Mainstreaming Human Security in ASEAN Integration

Smooth progress in ASEAN integration is hampered by disparities among countries within the region and by non-traditional security issues that transcend national boundaries. This study takes the position that these issues relate to the provision of human security to the populations of  ASEAN countries; thus, human security is a central issue in the  ASEAN integration process. From this position, the study attempts  two objectives:  first, to understand the degree to which the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have been met by the individual ASEAN members and identify the challenges that lie ahead;  second, to determine the most effective formula for cooperation at the regional level, including  engagement by Japan, to tackle problems that are not amenable to resolution by a single country, such as transnational crime, disease transmission and environmental degradation.