The Ineffectiveness of ASEAN Political Security Community Blueprint in Promoting Shared Responsibility for Comprehensive Security in Counterterrorism: Case Study Terrorism in Tri-Border Area of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines 2009-2018

Abstract

Tri-border area of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines are facing the threat of terrorism as a
result of terrorist activities by Abu Sayyaf and Moro Islamic Liberation Front. ASEAN
countries have countered the threat by undertaking joint military cooperation. However, this
research found that the security cooperation is not in line with the principle of shared
responsibility for comprehensive security stipulated in ASEAN Political Security Community
(APSC) Blueprint. This research aims to explain the causes of APSC Blueprint‘s
ineffectiveness in promoting shared responsibility for comprehensive security to counter
terrorism in tri-border area. This research addresses this question by using qualitative method
where secondary data from journals, books, official documents, and reports are utilized.
Using the theory of compliance and concept of legalization, this research answers the
question by examining the institutional design of ASEAN Political Security Community
Blueprint. This research found that there is a compliance problem in APSC Blueprint
consisting of failure of obligational clarity, failure of performance clarity, and failure of
response clarity. In addition, the ASEAN Political Security Community Blueprint falls into
the category of low legalization, making this blueprint is non-binding. Therefore, the
violations to the commitment stipulated in the blueprint will not result in significant
consequences.