Impact of Nationalist Sentiments and Commitment for Prioritising the ASEAN Economic Community: Empirical Analysis from Survey in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore

Abstract

This study examines how nationalist sentiments affect the public's commitment to prioritize the proposed ASEAN Economic Community and its three features – free flow of goods and services, free movement of skilled/professional workers and freedom to invest in the region. It analyzes statistical data from public opinion surveys conducted to 1,040 respondents from eleven cities in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore in 2010. Tested by OLS regression analysis, the study finds some mixed findings for the four hypotheses, differences in results in the three ASEAN countries, and issues specific to developing countries that vary the results from the European integration.