Page 184 of 334 Source: ASEF official website:
5.1.2. Phases of ASEF evolution
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Source: ASEF official website:http://www.asef.org/index.php?option=com_department&task=view&id=3&Itemid=72
5.1.2. Phases of ASEF evolution
The development of ASEF interestingly reflects the evolution of ASEM itself. This part displays author’s finding in interviewing staff of ASEF in examining the reality of organization juxtaposed with the official ASEM mandate. The linkages and determinants between ASEM and ASEF need to be explained starting with the organization’s development.
The Asia-Europe Foundation has gone through different phases of evolution since its inception. A closer inspection of ASEF archives and interviews with long-time ASEF staff can show some apparent traits that can be grouped into the following phases:
I. Phase One: “Event-organizer”
In the first few years ASEF was event-oriented, organizing “one-off” type of events rather than sustainable long-term projects. The programs launched during this phase were more for the sake of creating meeting and encounter opportunities for the participants, rather than bringing significant outcomes. It was an important contribution, given the fact that before ASEF there was no habit of regular meetings and collaboration in such a diverse group.
II. Phase Two: “Experimental entrepreneur”
After a couple of years, ASEF’s programs were streamed into four thematic areas:
a. Education, Science and Technology b. Governance and Human Rights c. Culture and Civilization
d. International Relations
During this period, ASEF managed to invent a safe space for candid and honest dialogue on sensitive topics, adopting the Chattam House rule, where participants, often officials, intellectuals, and policy-makers, had the “off-record” opportunity to express their views. This
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phase reflects the success of creating a habit of encounters, to the degree that the interlocutors gain confidence in touching sensitive issues.
III. Phase Three: “Lifting up to the brand”
“ASEF has become conscious of its own brand.”316 After a series of experiments, it has started to aim at continuance and a higher impact of its work by limiting scope of topics and aims at “going deeper rather than broader” 317. The “brand” refers to the successful and sustainable activities that ASEF had organized and which have been acknowledged as original contributions.
They have also become a trademark of ASEF’s quality. These activities are:
Human Rights Seminar - Established in 1998, the Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights is organized and managed by the ASEF Intellectual Exchange Department. These seminars bring together government officials, academics, and civil society representatives from ASEM member countries for dialogues on ASEM priorities. The rule of the meetings is to have equal representation from governments and NGOs to the table, while the European Commission and ASEAN Secretariat are also involved.
Asia-Europe Environment Forum – Active since 2003, ASEF and the Environmental Forum have been recognised by the ASEM Environment Ministers in 2007. ASEF has initiated several programmes to provide a forum for discussion on the global challenges of sustainable development, and other environment related issues under its Sustainable Development and Environment theme. The Forum works in partnership with national agencies for the environment and development, as well as with UNEP.
ASEF University – is a 2-week programme that aims to promote cross-cultural exchanges among youth. Organised annually at locations alternating between Asia and Europe, AU generally aims to have at least 1 representative from each ASEM country. To this date, ASEF has organized 18 AU and has met with essential interest and support, which can be seen in the active network of AU’s alumni network- ASEFUAN.
316 Interviewee 3, June 2012
317 Interviewee 13, June 2012
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Culture 360 - an online platform informing the people of Asia and Europe about each other through arts and culture. It is designed to create networking opportunities for cultural professionals who are looking to share ideas by providing relevant information through weekly updates on news, events, opportunities and resources. It also features a cultural magazine with in-depth articles, interviews and profiles, and social media tools to enable online networking between individuals, as well as organizations across the ASEM regions.
Perception Studies- this series of studies have explored perceptions, images and also stereotypes of Asians towards Europeans and Europeans towards Asians through media analysis, public opinion surveys and elite interviews. This project is pioneering in terms of the scope of Asian and European countries it has an essential contribution to the mutual understanding. 318
IV. Phase Four: Long-lasting value-added activities
In recent years, there has been a tendency to reduce the number of programs in favor of more sustainable programs with succinct outcomes. There is more of a long-term planning approach looking for 3-4 year time ahead, and focusing on long-standing functional partnerships.
In the past ASEF turned to member states for assistance in hosting events, whereas now it has started to look for partners to co-organize the events with. There is a tendency to tap into larger international events, existing networks, rather than creating something from scratch. An example of such direction is the ASEF program “Asia-Europe Environmental Forum”. By participating in
318 Details of each of these projects can be found on the ASEF website:
http://www.asef.org/index.php/projects/programmes [Last accessed on March 28th, 2013]
The Perception Studies was launch in partnership with European Studies in Asia, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, National Center for Research on Europe of Canterbury University, and Fudan University, ASEF has launched a long-term research project on Mutual Perception of Asia and Europe. As a result of it two publications were completed
“Th EU h h h y s As ” “As h Ey s E p ”
http://asef.org/index.php/projects/themes/education/1148-asia-in-the-eyes-of-europe [Last accessed on November 30th, 2012]. Above information was confirmed with the Interviewee 3, June 2012.
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the Rio+20 Summit in June 2012 ASEF transcended the Asia-Europe context and engaged itself in the ongoing discussion at to the global stage.319
At this stage, the organization sets its goals not on hosting multiple diverse events, but rather it is looking to tap on existing fora and contributes its inter-regional, Asia-Europe resources. Unlike in the past, when it used to tackle “new” issues, ASEF now is focused on exchanging information and practices among the member states over the existing debates. The goal of the events and activities it organizes is to produce “Best Practices” publications that documents best practices of certain issue areas in each of the member countries serving recommendation purposes. The remaining challenge, however, is to identify common areas of cooperation that Asian and European members can equally commit to. 320