Inspiring security cooperation: the EU, ARF, ASEAN and Myanmar

This article regards the European Union’s endeavours at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum (ARF) to motivate ASEAN and Myanmar to connect with multilateral security cooperation. It discusses two assumptions: the EU made efforts to inspire ASEAN to undertake responsibilities; and the EU tried to encourage Myanmar to engage in security cooperation. It employs an approach underpinned by Checkel’s (1999) social theory, March and Olsen’s (1998) logic and observations provided by several interviewees (Southeast Asia and Brussels). It relates to the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis that hit Myanmar in 2008 causing thousands of deaths as the context of this case study. The article investigates several questions: has ASEAN responded to the EU’s invitation to take courage in shouldering responsibility? Has Myanmar coped with the EU’s call to join the multilateral security framework of cooperation? And, lastly, have any lessons been derived from Myanmar’s Nargis incident with regard to the European Union’s foreign and security policy?