Southeast Asian Security And The Future of The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)

摘要

Asia is undergoing a process of changes in its leadership, marking a political transition at its highest level of the political elite. The emerging new generation of leaders, who are between 30 and 50 years of age, represent a new approach to political management and social changes with consequences for national and regional security. The new leaders of the region share several common features. They possess freedom from the constraints stemming from the struggle against Communism and Cold War politics. The educational training and exposure they underwent have produced a more pragmatic approach to problem identification and resolution. The new leaders' general non-involvement in the anti-colonialist struggle for independence has enabled them to adopt a less ideological view of international relations, with their preference for evolutionary change stronger than their capability for revolutionary change.