ASEAN's Engagement of Civil Society

"In this timely, rigorously researched and theoretically informed work, Kelly Gerard analyses ASEAN's engagement with regional civil society, going beyond current writings that uncritically laud that engagement as indicative of progress towards participatory regionalism or simply dismiss such engagement as mere window dressing. Using Kanishka Jayasuriya and Garry Rodan's 'mode of political participation' approach that usefully distinguishes between participation, representation and contestation, the book confirms the rhetorical nature of ASEAN's engagement with civil society and, importantly, tells us why and how this has been accomplished. It is valuable reading for all those interested in understanding the intricacies and intrigues involved in ASEAN's journey towards participatory regionalism." - Helen E S Nesadurai, Monash University, Malaysia Campus

"A much-needed addition to the current literature on ASEAN, bringing into focus the significant relationships that ASEAN has fostered with civil society organizations in recent years. The book is a compelling case study of the inherent conservatism of ASEAN's engagements with civil society. Kelly Gerard deftly and rigorously exposes how rhetorical commitments to a more 'people oriented' ASEAN mask the extent to which engagements with civil society serve to legitimize the projects of marketization and liberalization being pursued by ASEAN elites. ASEAN's Engagement of Civil Society will prove a valuable source for anyone interested in the complexities and dilemmas facing civil society groups seeking to influence the agendas of international organizations." - Juanita Elias, University of Warwick, UK

"This book provides a sophisticated analysis of the participation of civil society organizations in ASEAN. Kelly Gerard's work provides a wealth of empirical analysis that will make it indispensable for those working on ASEAN. But this work is much more than that: it represents a substantive theoretical contribution to the analysis of civil society participation that provides fresh insights for those working on the relationship between non-state actors and governance institutions. This work is essential reading for students of regional and global governance." - Kanishka Jayasuriya, University of Adelaide, Australia