Regional security and good governance

Abstract

Governance, like globalization, is over used but under studied. it conjures different meanings to different users precisely because it is complex, multi faceted and multi disciplined. It covers various issues; thus a wide cross section of participants would like to see their mark on the governance aspect of their interest areas. The 1980s introduced the norms of civil society and the associated concept of governance. On its heel followed global governance, including the features of an international civil society, only this time it would be applicable on a global scale. But why such a coverage? Why must governance be either national or international? Can governance and civil society occur at the regional level - i.e. regional governance - pursuing the characteristics of the global at the regional? Can it also include matters of security? The following is a modest attempt in applying the existing framework to studying governance within the regional context of Southeast Asia and to seek answers to such questions as: will regional governance in security promise a higher probability of peace and stability for its members? Will it deliver where global governance has faltered? Will regional civiI society be able to play a role?