Encouraging security cooperation at the Forum? The EU’s efforts at ARF vis-à-vis Myanmar via ASEAN: 2004-2008

This empirical inquiry investigates two research questions. The first is: “how has the European Union (EU) interacted with Myanmar, via the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), trying (directly or indirectly) to induce Myanmar’s junta towards connecting with cooperation in the area of security, as opposed to its preferred ‘non-interference policy’?” The second question is: “as the EU sought to convince Myanmar to compromise and accept cooperation, has Myanmar, hit by Cyclone Nargis, generated some influence on the EU and its security policy, and, if so, how?” Interpretations borrowed from March and Olsen (1995, 1998, 2004) and Checkel (1999, 2005) and observations derived from interviews (Southeast Asia and the EU) contribute towards answering the two questions. The EU’s quest to encourage security cooperation is investigated in light of the ARF meetings that it co-chaired with ASEAN during 2004-2008. The first date is justified by Myanmar being admitted to ARF and the second by Cyclone Nargis afflicting Myanmar. Official declarations by the Commission, the Council, and the EU together with ASEAN indicate the EU’s ‘intentional policies’ at the Forum level.