KETIMPANGAN PEMBANGUNAN EKONOMI DI ASEAN: PENGARUHNYA TERHADAP PROSES INTEGRASI EKONOMI KAWASAN MELALUI SKEMA ASEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY 2015

Economic development gap has divided ASEAN countries into two groups named ASEAN-6 and CLMV. Yet, ASEAN is still in the process to establish ASEAN Economic Community in 2015. In attempt to establish AEC, equitable economic development becomes one of the main characteristics in AEC Blueprint. A debate then arises whether ASEAN is plausible to establish economic community successfully or not. In fact, development gap does not always obstruct the establishment of a community. Development gap also exists in European region but it is not a serious problem that can hinder European countries to establish European Union. This study is aimed at discussing the influences of economic development gap among ASEAN countries towards the process of AEC establishment. Dependent development theory of Cardoso is used to analyze the development gap in ASEAN. Development gap in ASEAN is influenced by the international economic structure. ASEAN countries are integrated to international structure through foreign direct investment from the center states. This condition places ASEAN countries as dependent countries