Introduction

Abstract

This chapter introduces the central puzzle of the book—Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) contribution to managing order in the Asia-Pacific and how it fits with the region’s great power politics. It highlights how ASEAN’s contribution to order management during and after the Cold War appears to be part of a division of labour with the great powers. The chapter discusses the debate around ASEAN’s role, highlighting how realist, constructivist and critical approaches have captured important features—material and normative structures, and the agency of social forces—which can be brought together to provide a comprehensive understanding of ASEAN’s role. This is the premise upon which this book is built, making the case for how focusing on social role negotiation allows us to provide such a comprehensive understanding. The chapter outlines the book’s main arguments and briefly introduces subsequent chapters.