Why not Asian Union
Jahangir Bin Alam | Sunday, 20 July 2008
In today's globalised world no country - be it developed, developing, least or underdeveloped, big or small, can afford to live in isolation if it wants prosperity and good for its people. It is neither prudent nor desirable. Countries of various regions of the world have formed regional politico-economic blocks like the European Union (EU), the North American Free Trade Area (NAFTA), the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) etc. Of the three, the SAARC is yet to kick off in the real sense of the term. Although intra-block trade was the basic consideration behind formation of these blocks, it cannot be said that geo-politics did not have any role to play in their formation.
Besides above and some other smaller blocks, there are political blocks like - the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) and the Organisation of African Union (OAU) and a product-based international cartel - the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Of these blocks, the EU and the ASEAN are the most vibrant ones, which are playing significant roles towards socio-economic developments of their respective member countries. It is needless to say that the United Nations (UN) has miserably failed in addressing the burning issues confronting its members in general and weaker ones in particular. Over the years, the organisation has turned out to be a debating club catering to the needs of few rich and powerful member states apathetic to addressing the legitimate causes of less fortunate members.
With more than half of the world's population and having enormous natural and human resources, Asia is gradually emerging as a force to recon with so far as wealth and political clout is concerned. The process could get momentum if all the countries of the region could shake off their petty differences and intra-country bickering and come forward with an open mind to form a united platform like the EU. It could be called "The Asian Union" or whatever. Australia and New Zealand could be brought into the fold if they so desire. In that case, the union would be richer and stronger.
Any Asian country could take the initiative to this end. It could be China, Japan, Singapore or India and even Bangladesh. In order to avoid any controversy and mistrust, the headquarters of the union should be located in any of the smaller countries of the region. The union should either have a parliament like that of the European Union (EU) or a General Assembly like that of the United Nations (UN). There should be no disparity so far as representation is concerned. Each member country should have only one representative in the Parliament/Assembly irrespective of its size and population. All decisions should be on basis of majority votes. Unlike the UN, no country should have the power to veto any resolution passed by majority votes. However, for the sake of faireplay and in order to uphold the genuine interests of larger member countries, voting rights could be determined based on population and economic strength of a member country.
Like the EU, the Presidency of the union should rotate among the member countries in alphabetical order. The Secretariat of the union should be headed by a Secretary General who will be the Chief Executive Officer and will discharge responsibilities in line with policy guidelines and rules framed from time to time by the Parliament/General Assembly. The members of the Union, irrespective of their size and clout, must strictly adhere to the policy guidelines and rules once adopted by the general body. The General Assembly could appoint the Secretary General to serve the organisation for a period not less than five years. But, there must be a guarantee that the Secretary General is given enough freedom in discharging his/her responsibilities without any interference from any quarter however powerful it might be.
If such an union happens to see the light of the day, it would be better for every one, if its members could to keep it as an economic union as much as possible rather mix mixing up with global politics. Politics should be kept in the sideline as far as possible. However, if political issues between the member countries crop up at any given point of time, it is desirable that matters should be sorted out bilaterally and the Secretariat of the Union could act as the mediator.
This scribe understands that some leaders of the region might have harboured such an idea of forming a union of all the Asian countries. But till date none has come forward to take the initiative in order to make it happen. May the dilemma is who would bell the cat. The sooner a positive step is taken to this end, the better it would be not only for the people of Asia, but also for all of us living in the planet earth. Possibly, all the positive thinking people of the region excepting the squint-eyed ones would agree with the proposition.
The writer is former Secretary, Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce & Industry. He may be reached at e-mail : [email protected]
Besides above and some other smaller blocks, there are political blocks like - the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) and the Organisation of African Union (OAU) and a product-based international cartel - the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Of these blocks, the EU and the ASEAN are the most vibrant ones, which are playing significant roles towards socio-economic developments of their respective member countries. It is needless to say that the United Nations (UN) has miserably failed in addressing the burning issues confronting its members in general and weaker ones in particular. Over the years, the organisation has turned out to be a debating club catering to the needs of few rich and powerful member states apathetic to addressing the legitimate causes of less fortunate members.
With more than half of the world's population and having enormous natural and human resources, Asia is gradually emerging as a force to recon with so far as wealth and political clout is concerned. The process could get momentum if all the countries of the region could shake off their petty differences and intra-country bickering and come forward with an open mind to form a united platform like the EU. It could be called "The Asian Union" or whatever. Australia and New Zealand could be brought into the fold if they so desire. In that case, the union would be richer and stronger.
Any Asian country could take the initiative to this end. It could be China, Japan, Singapore or India and even Bangladesh. In order to avoid any controversy and mistrust, the headquarters of the union should be located in any of the smaller countries of the region. The union should either have a parliament like that of the European Union (EU) or a General Assembly like that of the United Nations (UN). There should be no disparity so far as representation is concerned. Each member country should have only one representative in the Parliament/Assembly irrespective of its size and population. All decisions should be on basis of majority votes. Unlike the UN, no country should have the power to veto any resolution passed by majority votes. However, for the sake of faireplay and in order to uphold the genuine interests of larger member countries, voting rights could be determined based on population and economic strength of a member country.
Like the EU, the Presidency of the union should rotate among the member countries in alphabetical order. The Secretariat of the union should be headed by a Secretary General who will be the Chief Executive Officer and will discharge responsibilities in line with policy guidelines and rules framed from time to time by the Parliament/General Assembly. The members of the Union, irrespective of their size and clout, must strictly adhere to the policy guidelines and rules once adopted by the general body. The General Assembly could appoint the Secretary General to serve the organisation for a period not less than five years. But, there must be a guarantee that the Secretary General is given enough freedom in discharging his/her responsibilities without any interference from any quarter however powerful it might be.
If such an union happens to see the light of the day, it would be better for every one, if its members could to keep it as an economic union as much as possible rather mix mixing up with global politics. Politics should be kept in the sideline as far as possible. However, if political issues between the member countries crop up at any given point of time, it is desirable that matters should be sorted out bilaterally and the Secretariat of the Union could act as the mediator.
This scribe understands that some leaders of the region might have harboured such an idea of forming a union of all the Asian countries. But till date none has come forward to take the initiative in order to make it happen. May the dilemma is who would bell the cat. The sooner a positive step is taken to this end, the better it would be not only for the people of Asia, but also for all of us living in the planet earth. Possibly, all the positive thinking people of the region excepting the squint-eyed ones would agree with the proposition.
The writer is former Secretary, Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce & Industry. He may be reached at e-mail : [email protected]