The EU-ASEAN Relationship

Paper Summary:

The paper examines the relationship between the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), where the EU represents the "center" (dominant) states and ASEAN - the "periphery" (dependent) states. The paper attempts to determine whether the policies the richer nations develop really contribute to overcoming the inequality. The paper provides a brief introduction to the dependency theory and examines the argument that the free trade agreement both parties are pursuing is more beneficial to the EU than to the ASEAN. The paper comes to the conclusion that while the EU's policies are obviously aimed at protection of its own interests, the ASEAN has a lot to learn from the EU experience and should continue its cooperation with the EU. The paper includes graphs as appendices.

Outline:
Introduction
The Dependency Theory
Applying the Dependency Theory to the EU-ASEAN relations
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Modern processes of world development bring the relationships between the countries to a new dimension. After the collapse of the colonial system arose a problem of relations between industrially developed and developing countries. Initially, their cooperation was interpreted as economic support to young independent states, but soon the striking division between "rich" and "poor" countries became a real vector of confrontation in the 21st century. With the spread of education and demographic growth, the international equity issue expects "richer nations develop more comprehensive, more cooperative and more planned policies towards poorer parts of the world." The question is whether the policies the "richer nations" develop really contribute to overcoming the inequality issue."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Amit Sen, Jyoti (2008) Dependency Theory: how relevant is it today? Available at: http://btc-server.btc.anglia.ac.uk/aibs/PDFs/SEN%20A.%20-%20Dependency%20Theory%20how%20relevant%20is%20it%20today.pdf, last access 14.10.2008.
• Barr, M D. 2000. Lee Kuan Yew and the "Asian Values" Debate in: Asian Studies Review, Vol. 24, No. 3, pp. 309 - 334.
• Botezatu, Elena (2007) EU-ASEAN free trade area: regional cooperation for global competitiveness, MPRA Paper No. 4946.
• Burns, Rachel (2008) The European Union: Successes of Soft Power, Harvard Political Review, Spring. Available at: HPR Online http://hprsite.squarespace.com/the-european-union-042008/, last access 13.10.2008.
• Cardoso, F.H., and Faletto, Enzo (1969) Dependency and Development in Latin America, University of California Press.

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