Media as the Catalyzer of ASEAN Integration

ASEAN is a geo-political and economic organization from countries in the Southeast Asia region, which was established in Bangkok, August 8, 1967 through the Bangkok Declaration represented by five representatives of the state or the governments of Southeast Asian countries, namely the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia (Adam Malik), Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister (Tun Abdul Razak), Philippine Foreign Minister (Narciso Ramos), Singapore Foreign Minister (S. Rajaratnam), and Thailand Foreign Minister (Thanat Khoman). This declaration was a sign of the birth of an inter-state organization consisting of countries in Southeast Asia. ASEAN membership then developed into ten member countries with the entry of Brunei Darussalam (1984), Vietnam (1995), Laos (1997), Myanmar (1997), and Cambodia (1999). This organization aims to improve economic growth, social progress and cultural development of its member countries, and promote peace at the regional level.

ASEAN has experienced development from time to time in accordance with the ideals of the founders of ASEAN to establish friendships and cooperation in creating a safe, peaceful and prosperous region. ASEAN's development began to be seen from the Bali Concord I agreement in 1976. From the Bali Concord I, ASEAN leaders agreed on an Action Program that included cooperation in the fields of politics, economics, social, culture and information, security, and improvement of the AEAN mechanism. ASEAN's efforts under the Bali Concord I agreement make the Southeast Asia region more capable of maintaining peace and maintaining stability in improving welfare. Subsequent developments ASEAN agreed to form an integrated region in one community of Southeast Asian countries that are open, peaceful, stable and prosperous, care for each other, and are linked together in the dinamin partnership in 2020. These hopes are realized by ASEAN through ASEAN Vision 2020 which was ratified by the heads of ASEAN governments at the ASEAN Summit on 15 December 1997 in Kuala Lumpur.

ASEAN is a community in which there is a very pluralistic society, not only in ethnicity, but also in religion, ideology and its very diverse beliefs. In Cambodia there are Khmer, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cham; in Laos there are Lao, Lao Theung, Lao Soung tribes; in Myanmar there are tribes of Burma, Shan, Karen, Rakhine; not to mention in Indonesia, Malaysia and others. Buddhism is the majority in Thailand, Myanmar and Laos and Vietnam and Cambodia. Islam is embraced by the majority of the population in Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Christianity is the majority in the Philippines. In Singapore, religion with the most adherents is the religion adopted by Chinese people such as Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. Not to mention the culture that lives hand in hand with them. Not only it is very diverse in shape but also often engages in egocentrism. Very strong diversity in ethnicity and belief is allegedly able to slow down integration in ASEAN. Even though the ideal idea that we often hear is that pluralism is not identified with potential conflicts but the facts present how diversity has created a gap in the ASEAN community itself. Unlike the people in Southeast Asia, European society is relatively more homogeneous, although there are various variants in beliefs and culture but it is difficult to deny that diversity in Europe is not as fierce as in Southeast Asia.

Thus, with the relevance of the explanation, this paper tries to analyze agents according to constructivism, which then encourages the writer to be able to explain this agent in influencing and constructing relations or behavior between countries so as to facilitate integration of the ASEAN Community. The focus of the problem that will be examined is the ability of the media to become catalyst agents for integration of the ASEAN Community. The role that will be discussed will focus on the role of the media that is able to become an agent in encouraging ASEAN integration in the community. With the reference above, the formulation of the problem taken in this study is, How do the Media Become Catalyst Agents of ASEAN Community Integration?

Constructivism

Constructivism is a vital part of the approach, view and / or theory in International Relations (IR) studies, cannot be separated from the background of the Cold War, 1980s to 1990s. At that time the world was divided into two major poles, namely the poles of the United States (US) and the poles of the Soviet Union. With regard to the condition of the world which is divided into two poles, a heated debate between rationalism and constructivism also arises among HI scholars. Rationalism itself consists of approaches that assess the current world structure as something that tends to be static and causes countries to have static interests as well. The structure in question is anarchy – none of the parties or countries that have power over other countries, nor the lack of authority that can regulate the behavior of the state – and that interest is to survive in the anarchic world. On the other hand, constructivism thinkers think that anarchy's world structure or system is not a static thing, but can change with the interaction. This interaction can then change the interests of the country.

Starting from the history of constructivism, there are at least three constructivist thinkers who influence the development of the constructivism approach today. These thinkers were Nicholas Onuf, Friedrich Kratochwil and Alexander Wendt. Onuf was the first person to introduce constructivism in the IR study with his writing: World of Our Making, 1989. In his book, Onuf is trying to apply social theory to the political world which at that time was dominated by two major approaches, neo-realism and neo-liberalism or liberal- structuralism. dominated by two major approaches, neo-realism and neo-liberalism or liberal-structuralism. The approach built by Onuf (1989) moves from the assumption that humans are social beings or in other words, social interaction is basically the thing that makes us 'human'. In line with these assumptions, Onuf's constructivism emphasis is on the argument that society influences one another so that social change and construction move in two directions. Finally, constructivism emphasized by Onuf is how the role of rules is able to shape the community and the systems that develop within it.

Constructivism moves towards new level when Kratochwil (1989: 28-30) introduces his emphasis on daily languages and norms that maintain human behavior. Kratochwil considers that international politics must be analyzed in the context of norms through the use of language as a tool that is able to construct human behavior. In other words, Kratochwil through his book “Rules, Norms, and Decisions: on the Conditions of Practical and Legal Reasoning in International Relations and Domestic Affairs” wants to say that political interaction – through any media – has the potential to lead to the exchange of rules and norms. Furthermore, Kratochwil focuses on political actions that are meaningful and override what instruments or media are used to communicate.

Eventually, Alexander Wendt counts as an important figure in the development of constructivism. According to him, international politics is not something that is given or exists naturally, but more than that is something that is created or formed through intra-subjective practice. Then, Wendt added that identity is more fundamental than interests because identity forms the interest itself. In connection with the formation of identity, Wendt divides the process into two things, namely agents and structures. Agents are actors who form identities, while structures are a state of influence of behavior in the system due to changes in the identity of some - or even whole - members in the system (social and political).

Regardless of the variety of constructivist arguments, Baylis (2011: 150) straightforwardly draws similarities from some of the thinkers described earlier. According to him, all constructivist thinkers have similarities in how ideas form an international structure; then how do structures shape the identity, interests and foreign policy of countries; and how state actors, as well as non-state actors reform (transform) international structures. In other words, constructivism moves on the assumption that the political world is nothing but the cycle of making and re-making ideas, identities, interests, structures and so on. To get the visualization of the cycle, the authors form it in the sequence as follows:

However, one important thing to keep in mind is that this sequence is not constant because it allows practically a reverse jump or step. This means that there are possibilities for example: ideas directly affect identity then followed by changes in international structure.

Conceptual Framework

This conceptual framework aims to explain the flow of writing so that the reader knows correctly the author's flow of thought and how the research problems are answered with a series of the following descriptions:

Departing from the plot that has been provided, it appears that the author uses the media as a catalyst agent or accelerator of the integration of the ASEAN Community - the ASEAN community is the final stage of the ASEAN motto - which will lead to transformation. Regarding the stages of the ASEAN motto, constructivism theory (agent, structure and identity) also has the same stages to then answer the steps of integration.

Media-Idea Mutualism

The media as an agent – on the other hand there are state agents and so on – of integration of a society factually is not an impossibility. One of these phenomena occurs because in the information age people can access news or news very quickly, so agents like the state even tend to be unable to stem it. Continuing with the influence of the media, constructivism thinkers argue that to form a structure (in terms of an inter-state order or system), the first thing to be equated is the idea. The idea will then influence identity and interests, and then become the structure that many countries receive in the community.

Departs from the influence of the media and how ASEAN should follow up on the influence of the media as agents of integration. The author tries to offer a solution related to one of the ways that must be considered in order to achieve the objectives of ASEAN Community integration, according to the slogan of ASEAN itself: One Vision, One Identity and One Community. Therefore this discussion will be divided into three major parts. The first part is an example of how media plays a role as a forming agent or at least a catalyst agent for the formation of ideas in a society. A concrete example of the role of the media that the writer took from how the media in the United States during the Cold War played a role in forming ideas. The purpose of the first part is for the reader to be able to get a concrete picture of the role of the media. The second part is the problems that exist in ASEAN, especially the problems relating to the integration of ASEAN Communities. Last is the author's solution.

Media and Public Movements

In 2007 there was an issue regarding medical treatment in one of the Army Hospitals in the United States against soldiers returning from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The issue was later reported by The washington Post with Soldiers Face Neglect news headlines, Frustration at Army’s Top Medical Facility. As soon as the news circulated, the government seemed to be under pressure from the public until finally a two-star General in charge of the Hospital was released.

Other news came from 2005 regarding the security of US ports. At that time the media reported that the White House would sign an agreement to secure a large port in the US to one of the companies that had been purchased by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Departing from the news, US public opinion immediately opposed the policy which continued to debate at the Congress level. The congress was divided into two camps because on the other hand the US did not have enough security forces to be assigned to the big ports. Finally, due to public pressure, Congress and President Bush took action to ignore the planned cooperation with the company in question.

The two examples above at least try to show how the media has the power to control the government through reporting that has the potential to bring great public opinion. But more than that, the authors also provide not only media that have the power to bring the masses, but media that have the power to form opinions or ideas from the community itself.

Media Constructs Idea

Today's media advantage is ablity to exert the masses. Then this is in line with the success of one of the media from the United States, Voice of America (VOA). The success of VOA can be seen from the time this media survived, even developing from 1942 when the US was actively fighting the Nazis, to this day which has broadcast its news in more than 40 languages, and its estimation of serving 236.8 million people worldwide every week.

The role of VOA as an extension of the US and more specifically is used for the purposes of propaganda - the catalyst for changing ideas or public opinion - in line with the three objectives of VOA based on the agreement of the United States Information Agency in 1960. The objectives are:

1. VOA will serve as a consistently reliable and authoritative source of news. VOA news will be accurate, objective and comprehensive;

2. VOA will represent America, not any single segment of American society, and will therefore present a balanced and comprehensive projection of significant American thought and institutions;

3. VOA will present the policies of the United States clearly and effectively, and will also present responsible discussions and opinion on these policies.[1]

In connection with the formation of ideas, VOA as an extension of the US based on the three agreements above played an active role in promoting anti-communist narratives. At this level VOA sets out a comparison method with the aim of showing significant differences between the United States and the Soviet Union. The comparison method is known as the freedom vs. narrative. Communism. In the narrative series, VOA consistently portrays a free world where it must always be protected from the threat of communism. As for the effects of anti-communist narratives - in the midst of the US Cold War visiting the Soviet Union - VOA can be said to be successful when looking at the following data which ideas expressed through public opinion managed to see the Soviet Union as a threat to the world, in line with narratives VOA.[2]

Issues of the Integration of ASEAN Community

Since the establishment of ASEAN, these regional organizations always face challenges that can hinder the process of regional integration. from the beginning of its formation in 1967 ASEAN immediately faced the challenge of mistrust of one country and another as an implication of proxy war and regional border disputes. Until now, when ASEAN seeks to build a community that is integrated through the ASEAN Community, there are at least six issues that must first be addressed, namely economic differences, political systems, agendas, language, religion; weak institutional mechanisms with non-intervention in all fields; investment competition, resources and exports; the interests of the state which might conflict with the interests of the community; and finally dark history.

Among the various challenges facing ASEAN, the process of integrating ASEAN policies has one problem, namely the low involvement of non-state actors to access the policy-making process. Benny (2012: 1045) even added the reality that the concept of 'society' that was being built by ASEAN was lacking in a fundamental component that would make it compared to the success of the European Community, namely public involvement. This condition was exacerbated because ASEAN lacked a similar history that pushed such as the European Union (EU) with the movement of the Enlightenment liberalism when the public opposed the monarchical government based on descent and religion. Movements like this that become the spirit of Modern Europe are like the values ​​of liberal democracy which are then common values.

Unlike the European Union, ASEAN does not have a common value that can be the basis for the integration of a society. Each country in ASEAN comes from different values, such as Thailand which is still very thick in monarchy and Laos and Cambodia with communism. However, an additional note is that value is not something given, but can be formed along with the development of the times. The formation of these values ​​can be through the government or on the other hand non-governmental / state actors. This reality was then exactly like the survey in the Philippines in 289 respondents – from various backgrounds and different ages – who tended to consider the media not enough to preach ASEAN.[3]

Media as the Agent to Construct Idea: A Solution

If we pay close attention, ASEAN's motto: One Vision, One Identity, One Community actually forms a process. The process that one vision is the basis of one identity and one community is formed from the existence of common identities (common identity). This is also in line with the constructivism view in which to form a structure (society is included in a structure, both social and political) then it must first form an identity. The identity meant also at a smaller level is a combination of similarity of ideas.

Reflecting on two cases where the media had the power to bring the masses through the news, VOA News's media capabilities during the Cold War by leading public ideas about the threat of communism and the Soviet Union, and how the Philippines as part of ASEAN felt that the media was less involved in ASEAN related news. themselves, the authors see it is important for the media to be actively involved in forming common ideas on the integration of the ASEAN Community.

This solution becomes important when looking at the constructivism triangle where ideas are able to form identities, and identities are able to form structures. Therefore, if we reflect on the success of VOA, ASEAN should also form a media that can propagate the success of integration or at least become the catalyst for the integration.

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[1] Ibid.

[2] Smith, Tom W. 1983. The Poll: American Attitudes Toward the Soviet Union and Communism. Pubic Opinion Quarterly 47: 277-292.

[3] Siar, Sheila V. 2017. What Does ASEAN Mean to ASEAN Peoples? (The Philippine Case). Quezon City: Philippine Institute for Development Studies. Hal 9.

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Further Reading

Alfian dkk. 1986. Latar Belakang Terbentuknya ASEAN. Jakarta: Seknas ASEAN Deplu RI.

Cipto, Bambang. 2007. Hubungan Internasional di Asia Tenggara. Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar

Hauser, Ewa. 2011. Voice of America: A ‘Bumpy Road’ Towards Becoming a Key Instrument of American ‘Public Diplomacy’. Amerika Serikat: John F. Kennedy Institute

Jackson., Robert., Sorensen, Georg. 2006. Introduction to International Relations Theories and Approaches. Edisi ke-3. Oxford: Oxford University Press

Kementerian Luar Negeri RI. 2010. ASEAN Selayang Pandang. Jakarta: Direktorat Jenderal Kerjasama ASEAN

Kementerian Luar Negeri RI. 2011. Kenali ASEAN Kita. Jakarta: Direktorat Jenderal Kerja Sama ASEAN

Kementerian Luar Negeri: https://www.kemlu.go.id/id/kebijakan/asean/Pages/Sejarah-dan-Latar-Pembentukan-ASEAN.aspx, 11 Desember 2017 (15:46)

Kratochwil, Friedrich. 1989. Rules, Norms, and Decisions:on The Conditions of Practical and Legal Reasoning in International Relations and Domestic Affairs. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Onuf, Nicholas Greenwood. 1989. World of Our Making. Columbia: University of South Carolina

Priest, D., & Hull A. (2007). Soldiers Face Neglect, Frustration at Army’s Top Medical Facility. Dikutip dari The Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/17/AR2007021701172.html, 12 Desember 2017 (11:58)

Putra, Hilton Tarnama dan Eka An Aqimuddin. 2011. Mekanisme Penyeselaian Sengketa di ASEAN Lembaga dan Proses. Yogyakarta: Graha Ilmu

Siar, Sheila V. 2017. What Does ASEAN Mean to ASEAN Peoples? (The Philippine Case). Quezon City: Philippine Institute for Development Studies

Smith, Tom W. 1983. The Poll: American Attitudes Toward the Soviet Union and Communism. Pubic Opinion Quarterly 47: 277-292.

VOA: https://www.insidevoa.com/p/5829.html, 12 Desember 2017 (17:16)

Wendt, Alexander. 1987. The Agent-Structure Problem in International Relations Theory. Massachusetts: MIT Press

Willis, Jim. 2007. The Media Effect: How The News Influences Politics and Goverment. Wesport: Praeger Publishers