What If ASEAN Became One Country?

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is already a significant economic and political force, but what if its ten member states united to become a single country?

Narrated by Tom McKay
Video Edited by iyanbriandi

Timestamp(s):
0:00 The ASEAN Union
1:20 The Economic Potential
3:45 The Political Landscape
6:44 Global Arena
7:33 Cultural Melting Pot
8:22 Conclusion

Brought to you by the Behind Asian Team.

[BehindAsia]

If the Association of Southeast Asian nations suddenly overnight became one nation, just how important would it become in the global arena? Let us know what you think down below!

[amayreka]

We can't be a country. But as a Malaysian, I would die defending my Asean brothers and sisters. We love one another too much.

[leewn]

It’s impossible for ASEAN to unite as 1 country / Federation. Each of the country has very diverse policies, ideology, culture and domestic issues. They could only at best agree to exist peacefully, cooperate in trades and economy & development. ASEAN was initially formed in 1967 by Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippians & Singapore. It slowly expanded to its current 10 members

[hokaka]

If only... but in a realistic world, political systems, language barriers, culture, and religion be the challenges to face. Not to forget to include those who think they are better than other mindsets. Free trade and a unified currency as the first step to mutual benefits.

[Ozpawn]

I find it heart warming that even though everyone from these nations know it’s virtually impossible for such a thing to come forth in this era due to so many different issues, they still have love and care for the other nations as their own

[woka_kawanua-hwhj]

become 1 country is impossible, but to unite in 1 currency like euro is possible enough.

[basil]

As Indonesian I think this would be impossible, let alone unite with fellow established ASEAN country, even in Indonesia which has very diverse culture, big landscape and many island, it is very difficult to be equal in infrastructure and economy for whole region..

[weithiamneo]

ASEAN has existed long before EU but has not progressed as much. It was formed more to prevent conflict than for integration. It is more like a community gathering of neighbours for chit chat. And currently Myanmar is not invited because of family violence.

[goldenspoon]

ASEAN is a good platform for Economic integration and political cooperation in an uncertain world. But nationhood is beyond reach, because differences are too deeply entrenched among the different countries. The current relationship between individual states maintains a healthy distance. We are great friends, but we're not keen on marriage.

[youxkio]

Good are the intentions in this video. It will take a long time IF this project will ever consolidates. Some discuss it could be an economy similar to the European Union. However, its cultural ideologies are so diverse that will a long time to educate all the ethnic groups to accept and work together and share the same vision. Then there are local national-regional individual interests that do not follow democratic rules, and this problem is not only in one region.

A more probable solution for a regional unification consolidation in ASEAN may be closer to what we see in Latin America, the MERCOSUR, or, AfCFTA.

ASEAN needs to work for a free trade union and customs union first and make it really mature!

[wiccachu]

This might be difficult because our cultures are really different. We would rather be just friends with trading partnerships. Ever since we open trade within ASEAN I can freely order apple products from Singapore 😅. I greatly benefited from this. Apple didn’t have a main office in PH or a warehouse. We have resellers who put huge margins. So ordering online was so great. On a general note buying products within ASEAN is easy. I heard Thailand textiles are so good so maybe I will buy that online as well. 😊

[qrow]

I love my fellow ASEAN. Hoping ya'll doing great now and in the future. I frequently travel to other ASEAN countries and make friends from each and i've fall in love with the people, language, culture, food and other aspect. Despite our differences we still manage to live together as a community. In my eyes differences perfects the imperfections. Ya'll the best neighbour i've ever had. Love from Malaysia.

[zvcs]

I love that most ASEAN people treat each other as brothers and sisters (and are ready to defend each other) despite the cultural, political, and religious differences.🌹

[jaesi]

I never been to vietnam, malasia, indonesia or any other asean country but for some reason i have a soft hearts towards them.

[carltolentino]

Asean from The Philippines. Sending love and peace to all my Asean brothers and sisters. ☺️

[seenhitman]

Malaysia and singapore couldnt even stay in the same country, I doubt that it will be possible to unite countries with very different values and economic status. ASEAN as it is probably works best and increasing trade relations as well as collaborations is the way to go for now.

[mcbchannel]

It's really a good tale but please remember that unifying the republic countries (Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore), the monarch countries (Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, and Thailand), the one-party communist countries (Vietnam, and Laos), that military junta country (Myanmar), plus that one young, fragile, and poor state (Timor Leste) is utterly impossible and if it does it will be a whole groundbreaking in the world political history.

[gaarakabuto]

ASEAN countries uniting into one big federation or country is as nonsensical as advocating for a united nations of Latin America. The cultures, different political systems and most important the vastly different essential issues each country faces makes such unity impossible.
What COULD work out eventually once some of these countries come to political stability (even if that's not democratic) is a union like the European one.
That would be much easier to accomplish and would make all these countries much stronger to the global market, even having the potential to surpass the EU in some categories. Still that's difficult and it will be even more difficult once the geopolitical interests come into the equation and once some kind of stepping back happens from china.

[allow]

As a citizen of one of the ASEAN countries, we are very happy and contented to have unity among differences in the region. There is no need to take over one another's sovereignty or combined to be a single country.

[loyaguilar]

In my opinion ASEAN can't unite because of language and cultural barrier. Member countries is quite diverse.