ASEAN's Organisational Character Dr. Kumar Pardeep Associate Professor, Dept. of Political Science, Geeta Instute of Law, Karhans, Samalkha, Panipat, Haryana, India Online published on 18 June, 2014. Abstract ‘At the time of its formation ASEAN has a complex, decentralized structure. First ASEAN Summit in Bali in February 1976 opened the way for reorganization of ASEAN. With Foreign Ministers Meeting the highest decision making organ, it consisted of national ASEAN secretariats, a standing committee, 11 permanent committees. A Central Secretariat was to be established at Jakarta under an agreement signed at the summit. A major review of ASEAN's organization and capacities for economic co-operation was commissioned from a panel of 15-Senior officials and business figures in 1983 (the ASEAN Task Force Review). It recommended that an ASEAN council of ministers should be established to incorporate separate meetings of foreign, economic and other ministers, arguing that the council should be the top most decision-making body. A notable characteristic of ASEAN as an organization has been its orientation as an anticommunist organization. A further notable characteristic of ASEAN as an organization has been the relatively small size and stability of its membership. Another important feature is the expansion of the number of ASEAN's dialogue partners. The ‘Group of 14′ study group sponsored by the ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry, in its review of ASEAN policies in 1986, suggested that new dialogue relations with Korea, non-EEC Europe, India, the Soviet Union and China should be established. In 1983 amendments were made to the 1976 basic Agreement to provide for the possibility of expanding the composition of the ASEAN Secretariat staff. The Singapore Summit of 1992 agreed on the restructuring of ASEAN institutions. In 1997, an additional post of Deputy Secretary-General was created. The ASEAN Secretariat has now put in place a functional structure. Top Keywords ASEAN, Secretariate, Group of 14, ASA, Secretary-General. Top |