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The Evolution of ASEAN’s Neutrality Norm in the Era of US-China Competition

Li, Xiaoying LU (2026) SIMZ11 20251
Master of Science in Global Studies
Abstract
Against the backdrop of escalating US-China competition, the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is situated in a key geopolitical position. This is not the first time ASEAN has faced great power competition within the region. During the Cold War, to respond to the US-Soviet rivalry, ASEAN developed neutrality as one of its fundamental norms. This thesis aims to explore the role and evolution of ASEAN’s neutrality norm in the context of US-China competition in the new era. The research focuses on the extent to which this norm has shaped ASEAN’s current foreign policy, as well as the changes the norm has undergone since 2011. This study adopts a qualitative constructivist approach and uses discourse analysis to examine ASEAN’s... (More)
Against the backdrop of escalating US-China competition, the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is situated in a key geopolitical position. This is not the first time ASEAN has faced great power competition within the region. During the Cold War, to respond to the US-Soviet rivalry, ASEAN developed neutrality as one of its fundamental norms. This thesis aims to explore the role and evolution of ASEAN’s neutrality norm in the context of US-China competition in the new era. The research focuses on the extent to which this norm has shaped ASEAN’s current foreign policy, as well as the changes the norm has undergone since 2011. This study adopts a qualitative constructivist approach and uses discourse analysis to examine ASEAN’s response to neutrality in the security realm (the South China Sea dispute) and in the economic realm (interaction with China’s “Belt and Road Initiative”). This thesis is grounded in constructivist theory and draws on a series of norm-related theory analyses. This study finds that the norm of neutrality has long influenced ASEAN. Amid the current US-China competition, it often manifests in the form of hedging practices and ensures that ASEAN does not become a victim of great power competition. At the same time, this norm has evolved with the times and is gradually shifting from passive to active. This study contributes to the exploration of the transformation of regional organisation norms. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Li, Xiaoying LU
supervisor
organization
course
SIMZ11 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
ASEAN, US-China competition, Norm, Neutrality, Constructivism
language
English
id
9222368
date added to LUP
2026-02-18 14:59:52
date last changed
2026-02-18 14:59:52
@misc{9222368,
  abstract     = {{Against the backdrop of escalating US-China competition, the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is situated in a key geopolitical position. This is not the first time ASEAN has faced great power competition within the region. During the Cold War, to respond to the US-Soviet rivalry, ASEAN developed neutrality as one of its fundamental norms. This thesis aims to explore the role and evolution of ASEAN’s neutrality norm in the context of US-China competition in the new era. The research focuses on the extent to which this norm has shaped ASEAN’s current foreign policy, as well as the changes the norm has undergone since 2011. This study adopts a qualitative constructivist approach and uses discourse analysis to examine ASEAN’s response to neutrality in the security realm (the South China Sea dispute) and in the economic realm (interaction with China’s “Belt and Road Initiative”). This thesis is grounded in constructivist theory and draws on a series of norm-related theory analyses. This study finds that the norm of neutrality has long influenced ASEAN. Amid the current US-China competition, it often manifests in the form of hedging practices and ensures that ASEAN does not become a victim of great power competition. At the same time, this norm has evolved with the times and is gradually shifting from passive to active. This study contributes to the exploration of the transformation of regional organisation norms.}},
  author       = {{Li, Xiaoying}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Evolution of ASEAN’s Neutrality Norm in the Era of US-China Competition}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}