ASEAN as a `thin` community: the case against adopting the EU acid rain framework for transboundary haze management in Southeast Asia

Transboundary haze is a recurring problem in Southeast Asia. Academic discussion has focused largely on the failure of ASEAN to promote effective regional cooperation on the issue. On the other hand, EU action in the 1980s had been successful in mitigating acid rain at the regional level. The two c...

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Main Author: Vakkey, Helena
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Penerbit UKM 2011
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/3360/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/3360/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/3360/1/Helena%2520Varkkey%252038%2520%282%29%2520%28December%25202011%29.pdf
id ukm-3360
recordtype eprints
spelling ukm-33602016-12-14T06:34:26Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/3360/ ASEAN as a `thin` community: the case against adopting the EU acid rain framework for transboundary haze management in Southeast Asia Vakkey, Helena Transboundary haze is a recurring problem in Southeast Asia. Academic discussion has focused largely on the failure of ASEAN to promote effective regional cooperation on the issue. On the other hand, EU action in the 1980s had been successful in mitigating acid rain at the regional level. The two cases are similar - both are anthropogenic pollution problems that originated in particular states in the region, but which effects were felt more severely in neighbouring states. Furthermore, both regions have institutionalised organisations in which all concerned states are members. Therefore, scholars have often looked towards the European experience with acid rain as a potential framework for effective ASEAN action over the haze. However, this paper argues that this strategy is misguided. This is because, unlike the ‘thick’ EU community with pooled sovereignty and sufficient clout to influence regional outcomes, ASEAN is a ‘thin’ community which was designed to advance the individual national interests of its member states. Therefore, ASEAN-level haze mitigation programmes cannot be expected to be effective in the same way that acid rain programmes have been in Europe. Thus, this article suggests that haze abatement in Southeast Asia should not depend solely, or even mainly, on regional action. Penerbit UKM 2011-12 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/3360/1/Helena%2520Varkkey%252038%2520%282%29%2520%28December%25202011%29.pdf Vakkey, Helena (2011) ASEAN as a `thin` community: the case against adopting the EU acid rain framework for transboundary haze management in Southeast Asia. Jebat: Malaysian Journal of History, Politics and Strategic Studies, 38 (2). pp. 1-26. ISSN 2180-0251 http://pkukmweb.ukm.my/jebat/v2/
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Local University
institution Universiti Kebangasaan Malaysia
building UKM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
language English
description Transboundary haze is a recurring problem in Southeast Asia. Academic discussion has focused largely on the failure of ASEAN to promote effective regional cooperation on the issue. On the other hand, EU action in the 1980s had been successful in mitigating acid rain at the regional level. The two cases are similar - both are anthropogenic pollution problems that originated in particular states in the region, but which effects were felt more severely in neighbouring states. Furthermore, both regions have institutionalised organisations in which all concerned states are members. Therefore, scholars have often looked towards the European experience with acid rain as a potential framework for effective ASEAN action over the haze. However, this paper argues that this strategy is misguided. This is because, unlike the ‘thick’ EU community with pooled sovereignty and sufficient clout to influence regional outcomes, ASEAN is a ‘thin’ community which was designed to advance the individual national interests of its member states. Therefore, ASEAN-level haze mitigation programmes cannot be expected to be effective in the same way that acid rain programmes have been in Europe. Thus, this article suggests that haze abatement in Southeast Asia should not depend solely, or even mainly, on regional action.
format Article
author Vakkey, Helena
spellingShingle Vakkey, Helena
ASEAN as a `thin` community: the case against adopting the EU acid rain framework for transboundary haze management in Southeast Asia
author_facet Vakkey, Helena
author_sort Vakkey, Helena
title ASEAN as a `thin` community: the case against adopting the EU acid rain framework for transboundary haze management in Southeast Asia
title_short ASEAN as a `thin` community: the case against adopting the EU acid rain framework for transboundary haze management in Southeast Asia
title_full ASEAN as a `thin` community: the case against adopting the EU acid rain framework for transboundary haze management in Southeast Asia
title_fullStr ASEAN as a `thin` community: the case against adopting the EU acid rain framework for transboundary haze management in Southeast Asia
title_full_unstemmed ASEAN as a `thin` community: the case against adopting the EU acid rain framework for transboundary haze management in Southeast Asia
title_sort asean as a `thin` community: the case against adopting the eu acid rain framework for transboundary haze management in southeast asia
publisher Penerbit UKM
publishDate 2011
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/3360/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/3360/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/3360/1/Helena%2520Varkkey%252038%2520%282%29%2520%28December%25202011%29.pdf
first_indexed 2023-09-18T19:38:34Z
last_indexed 2023-09-18T19:38:34Z
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