The Perception of the EU in Southeast Asia

Publication Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

7-2010

Abstract

The article examines the external image of the EU among elites in five selected Southeast Asian countries: Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and the Philippines. Southeast Asia offers an interesting area for examining perceptions. Firstly, this region is linked to Europe by a long-standing and prosperous trade relationship. Secondly, the Association of South East Asian Nations has embarked on a process of deepening integration, adopting certain elements of the EU in its design. How desirable is the EU experience as an example of how to deepen integration? And how are EU external policies such as trade, human rights and environment perceived by stakeholders in the region? The article analyses perceptions on the themes of integration and external polices, contrasting them with the scholarly understandings of the EU as a ‘benign’ actor, notably the notions of ‘normative’, ‘civilian’ and ‘soft’ power.

Keywords

European Union, South East Asia, regional integration, perceptions, soft power

Discipline

Asian Studies | International and Area Studies

Research Areas

Political Science

Publication

Asia Europe Journal

Volume

8

Issue

2

First Page

149

Last Page

160

ISSN

1610-2932

Identifier

10.1007/s10308-010-0257-8

Publisher

Springer Verlag

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10308-010-0257-8

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