We would like to invite abstract submissions for the upcoming “Revisiting Economic Security in Southeast Asia” workshop, organized by the Centre on Asia and Globalisation (CAG), Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), National University of Singapore. The workshop will be held in Singapore on
February 27-28, 2025.
Existing perspectives on economic security in Southeast Asia are deeply rooted in “comprehensive security”, a concept that addresses traditional security threats to state sovereignty and territorial integrity but also places a strong emphasis on nontraditional issues related to the political, economic, and socio-cultural development of ASEAN member states for their national and regional resilience (Alagappa 1998; ASEAN 2009; Caballero-Anthony 2017). While relying on member states’ shared preferences for mutual benefits and gains as a security community, ASEAN’s economic security has continuously focused on increasing levels and depth of economic cooperation and connectivity within and outside ASEAN and embraced a diversified range of nontraditional and transnational security issues (Lee 2022). ASEAN’s approach to economic security is therefore very much aligned with the IR theory of commercial liberalism, which posits that economic interdependence promotes regional peace and cooperation.
In recent years, however, significant changes have occurred in the global strategic landscape that has had a profound impact on Southeast Asia’s approach to economic security. Among these are the growing signs of geo-economic fragmentation caused by heightened rivalry between the U.S. and China and the escalation of regional conflicts and tensions. US-China rivalry has also led to the reconfiguration and disruptions in global supply chains resulting in trade diversion and fragmented production networks. Rising income inequality worldwide has also contributed to prevalent disenchantment with the benefits of globalization, with calls for more inclusive policies to be included in the economic agenda of policy makers.
In light of these evolving geopolitical dynamics, it is an opportune time to revisit the concept of economic security and critically analyze its implications for ASEAN’s strategies aimed at achieving a peaceful and prosperous nation. This research project aims to address – Should the concept of economic security be redefined to align with the evolving geoeconomic landscape? What are the main mega trends and emerging challenges that would have the most impact on Southeast Asia’s economic security? How have Southeast Asian states responded to these emerging issues and what are the challenges they face in addressing these issues? Is ASEAN still capable of achieving its economic security goals in a changed global and regional environment? We seek submissions on topics including, but not limited to
• Redefining the concept of economic security in Southeast Asia.
• Global supply chain reconfiguration and disruptions.
• Rapid digitisation and the adoption of AI.
• Climate change and sustainable development.
• US-China rivalry and the evolving trade architecture.
• Role of multilateral institutions in economic security.
• Economic, social, financial inclusion with considerations of civil societies and non-government organisations.
Please submit abstracts of 200-300 words as either .pdf or .doc files via email to
decb64_bWFlLmNob3dAbnVzLmVkdS5zZw==_decb64 by January 17, 2025. Kindly indicate in the subject line of your submission,
"CAG Economic Security Workshop".
We will communicate accepted submissions by late January 2025. For the workshop on 27-28 February 2025, a 2–3-page memo of your paper outline will suffice. Full paper submissions of 8,000 to 10,000 words will be
due end-May 2025. Following the workshop, a special issue and/or edited volume will be proposed. Co-editors for the publication are Denis Hew, Senior Research Fellow, CAG and Lee Su-Hyun, Assistant Professor and Coordinator of MSc International Political Economy Programme at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University.
Kindly note that the CAG will provide economy-class airfare to and from Singapore, and accommodations for up to three nights for accepted participants.
References
Alagappa, M. (1998). Asian Security Practice: Material and Ideational Influences. Redwood City: Stanford University Press.
https://doi.org/10.1515/9780804765121.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Roadmap for an ASEAN Community 2009-2015. Jakarta: ASEAN Secretariat, 2009.
https://www.asean.org/wp-content/uploads/images/ASEAN_RTK_2014/2_Roadmap_for_ASEAN_Community_20092015.pdf.
Caballero-Anthony, Mely. ASEAN at 50: The Fourth Industrial Revolution, Inclusivity, and Sustainable Economic Growth. Jakarta: Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, 2017.
https://www.eria.org/ASEAN_at_50_4A.7_Caballero-Anthony_final.pdf.
Lee, Su-Hyun. “ASEAN’s Economic Security and Regional Economic Cooperation: Past, Present, and Future.” Asian Journal of Comparative Politics 7, no. 1 (2022): 10–28.
https://doi.org/10.1177/20578911211032135.