Description
Book SynopsisSovereignty is a foundational idea upon which regional organisation of nations is built, yet its demise has often been predicted. Regionalism, which commits states to common frameworks such as rules and norms, tests sovereignty as states relinquish some sovereign power to achieve other goals such as security, growth, or liberalisation. This book examines the practice of normative contestation over sovereignty in two regional organisations of Africa and Asia the AU and ASEAN. A structured comparison of three case studies from each organisation determines whether a norm challenging sovereignty was accepted, rejected, or qualified. Ng has carried out interviews about, and detailed analysis of, these six cases that occurred at formative moments of norm-setting and that each had very different outcomes. This study contributes to the understanding of norms contestation in the field of international relations and offers new insights on how the AU and ASEAN are constituted.
Trade Review'This timely, meticulously-researched, persuasively-argued, and provocatively-theorized book navigates the complex world of norm contestation in the African Union (AU) and the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN). Ng insightfully theorized that three factors of diplomatic practice drive norm contestation between relatively equal actors in international organizations. This pioneering book will be a great read for scholars and practitioners of international relations, diplomacy, international organizations, African and Asian Studies.' Thomas Kwasi Tieku, Associate Professor, King's University College, Western University
Table of ContentsPart I. Normative Contestation in Regional Organisations; 1. Introduction; 2. Theoretical Framework; Part II. The African Union; 3. The 'United States of Africa' Proposal; 4. The Conference on Security, Stability, Development, and Cooperation in Africa; 5. The Pan-African Parliament; Part III: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations; Part III. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations; 6. Human Rights 'Protection' in the ASEAN Charter; 7. The ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism; 8. Extending the 'ASEAN Minus X' Formula; Part IV. Comparative Findings; 9. Assessing the Model; 10. Conclusion.
