The EU, ASEAN and Interregionalism: Regionalism Support and Norm Diffusion Between the EU and ASEAN(The European Union in International Affairs)

Challenging the conventional processes of conceptualising the European Union as an actor, this study provides a timely and in-depth analysis of EU-ASEAN relations which contests the use of power as the basis of such conceptualisations. It assesses the EU's actorness by analysing its attempts to promote its regionalism experience to ASEAN. Three aspects of regionalism - economic integration, institutionalisation and political norms - are analysed using data collected from officials and researchers connected to these regions. In doing so, this compelling volume shows that the effectiveness of the EU's aim to diffuse these norms is predominantly determined both by ASEAN's perception of the EU as an actor and its consideration of the EU's regionalism experience as relevant to ASEAN.

Table of Contents:
1. Ambitions of Actorness 2. Seeking to Reconceptualise the EU as a 'Power' 3. Drivers of Interregionalism: EU-ASEAN Engagement 4. The EU, ASEAN and Economic Integration 5. The EU, ASEAN and Institutionalisation 6. The EU, ASEAN and Political Norms 7. The Implications of Regionalism Support and Norm Diffusion on EU Actorness

About the Author :
Laura Allison is a Research Fellow at the Public Policy and Global Affairs Programme at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. She is also an Associate Fellow of the EU Centre in Singapore. She received her PhD from the University of Melbourne, Australia. Her current research focuses on comparative regional integration and comparative federalism.

Review :
'This fascinating book looks at actorness of the EU from a novel norm diffusion perspective. Its originality lies in the combination of a focus on the EU as norm diffuser and a focus on ASEAN as a norm recipient. Laura Allison clearly demonstrates that actorness lies in the eye of the beholder and therefore ASEAN actually contributes to shaping the EU's actorness. The book also has clear policy implications as it shows the need for a more symmetrical relationship between the EU and ASEAN.' - Luk Van Langenhove, United Nations University, Bruges, Belgium 'This book is a worthy contribution to international relations research on norm diffusion, perception and regionalism. Going beyond 'power' conceptualisations, the book deconstructs the idea of 'norm diffusion' and constructs useful analytical frameworks to assess and evaluate the extent of norm diffusion from the EU to ASEAN. The first book-length study of the EU's influence on diffusion of norms (or lack thereof) to ASEAN, it is of interest to students of regionalism, EU foreign policy, ASEAN, and international relations.' - Reuben Wong, Jean Monnet Chair in European Integration and Foreign Policy, National University of Singapore