Experience from University of Indonesia on ASEAN studies

Abstract

After more than four decades after its inception, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has merely been known by few elites in Indonesia. This phenomenon is a shame especially in regard to the decision of ASEAN leaders to establish ASEAN Community in 2015. The International Relations Departments, University of Indonesia, started to include classes special on ASEAN in its 2011 curriculum revision. The classes are compulsory for both under-graduate and graduate programs. They aim to socialize the setting, purposes and operation of ASEAN so that students can understand not only ASEAN internal and external dynamics as a regional cooperative institution but also Indonesia's position in ASEAN. Therefore, the subjects include map of Southeast Asia, ASEAN history, institutionalization of ASEAN in Southeast Asia, prospects and challenges of ASEAN political-security, Economic, and Socio-Cultural Community, ASEAN Plus One, ASEAN Plus Three, East Asian Summit and ASEAN centrality in Asian regional architecture. Depending on its context, the classes on ASEAN apply historical or theoretical approach. The former treats ASEAN as a diplomatic history in Southeast Asia, within the member countries or between the Southeast Asian countries and other external countries. In the latter, several theories can be used as teaching frameworks such as international institution either liberal, realist or social institution; Balance of Power; Regionalism and regionalization; as well as constructivist. In addition, states' policies towards ASEAN can also be taught as comparative politics. The methodology can be various too. In the undergraduate program, the subjects are presented in a more historical approach as they are an introduction. The theoretical approach is used later in the advanced classes aimed to more senior students. In the graduate program, the class entitled 'ASEAN' consists of both historical and theoretical approaches. In regards to pedagogy, there is a slightly different method in teaching ASEAN. For undergraduate classes, lecturing, assigning several readings for summaries and writing a descriptive paper are emphasized whereas in the graduate level the method focuses on discussion, assignments in form of critical reviews, and Position papers.