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An agenda for preventive diplomacy : implications for ASEAN and regional conflict management in Southeast Asia

Michael Tivayanond, J (2000) An agenda for preventive diplomacy : implications for ASEAN and regional conflict management in Southeast Asia. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) thesis, University of Kent. (doi:10.22024/UniKent/01.02.86197) (KAR id:86197)

Abstract

The post Cold War international system faces a number of key challenges. Among these, the increasingly complex nature of global conflicts and the inability of the United Nations to cope adequately with such cases has called for the identification of more effective methodologies of international conflict management. In this light, not only has it been suggested that regional organisations should play a more active role in assisting the world organisation in the responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, but it has also been recommended that the activities associated with the practice of preventive diplomacy can provide a more useful approach to this end. Preventive diplomacy can be classified into two main categories. On the one hand there is long-term preventive diplomacy which aims at the creation and maintenance of cooperative relationships between entities so that the functional value of conflict can be eradicated over time. On the other hand there is short-term preventive diplomacy which is concerned with thwarting the emergence or escalation of violent conflict at the inter-state and at the intra-state level. Preventive diplomacy aimed at thwarting violence involves a select group of functions and these include the activities of fact-finding and early warning, the use of diplomatic `good offices', the application of confidence-building measures, and the act of preventive deployment. These activities require adequate resources, preparation and political support. However it cannot be assumed that certain regional organisations, in the call to be more supportive to the United Nations, will be readily able to implement such measures of preventive diplomacy. The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is one particular regional organisation which has been finding it difficult to fully develop such a preventive diplomacy capability. ASEAN is a regional organisation preoccupied with fortifying intra-mural political unity, and with proving itself as a consequential grouping of states within the wider Asia-Pacific region. It is also a regional organisation that continues to be informed by a deeply embedded style of regional conflict management known as the `ASEAN way'. These inter-related factors have made considering a preventive diplomacy agenda less of a priority for ASEAN. Needless to say, it is essential for the ASEAN states to acknowledge the importance of more substantial conflict prevention measures for the region.

Item Type: Thesis (Doctor of Philosophy (PhD))
DOI/Identification number: 10.22024/UniKent/01.02.86197
Additional information: This thesis has been digitised by EThOS, the British Library digitisation service, for purposes of preservation and dissemination. It was uploaded to KAR on 09 February 2021 in order to hold its content and record within University of Kent systems. It is available Open Access using a Creative Commons Attribution, Non-commercial, No Derivatives (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) licence so that the thesis and its author, can benefit from opportunities for increased readership and citation. This was done in line with University of Kent policies (https://www.kent.ac.uk/is/strategy/docs/Kent%20Open%20Access%20policy.pdf). If you feel that your rights are compromised by open access to this thesis, or if you would like more information about its availability, please contact us at ResearchSupport@kent.ac.uk and we will seriously consider your claim under the terms of our Take-Down Policy (https://www.kent.ac.uk/is/regulations/library/kar-take-down-policy.html).
Uncontrolled keywords: Association of South East Asian Nations
Subjects: J Political Science > JA Political science (General)
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Politics and International Relations
SWORD Depositor: SWORD Copy
Depositing User: SWORD Copy
Date Deposited: 29 Oct 2019 16:34 UTC
Last Modified: 14 Feb 2022 12:51 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/86197 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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