Essence of security communitles: explaining ASEAN

Despite its stated goal of establishing an ASEAN Community by 2015, ASEAN is not a security community. This conclusion is reached via identifying three models of the security community, the Deutschian Model l, the constructivist Model ll, and the instrumental Model IlI; and subsequently applying these to ASEAN. Although the paradox of the "long peace" of ASEAN seems to be validated by Model in, such is mistaking cause for effect. This paradox and the shortfalls of the three security community models are hence further addressed through conjoining the Aberystwyth School of Critical Security Studies to the "security community" concept in a Model IV critical security community formulation to achieve a holistic and comprehensive concept relevant in the postmodern world and employing this Model IV to explain ASEAN. Therein, ASEAN is not a security community; its security is not truly comprehensive, its people are not emancipated, and its various domestic and transnational instabilities affect it adversely.Master of Science (International Relations