Challenges to ASEAN Integration: The Socio Cultural Implications

The ten member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have very diverse cultures, ranging from differences in language, religion, history, geography, political structure, social framework, and world view. How do these differences affect the ASEAN countries' efforts at economic development, modernization, and regional integration? As they move towards an ASEAN Economic Community, this paper endeavors to suggest options to meeting the challenges posed by integration. These include creating a common identity, individual and institutional empowerment, learning a common language, cultural education civil capacity building, and learning from the EU experience.