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Let's Imagine, What If ASEAN Was A Single Country?

Let's Imagine, What If ASEAN Was A Single Country?

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional intergovernmental organisation comprising ten Southeast Asian states. Since its formation on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, the organisation’s membership has expanded to include Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Timor Leste might join soon. 

But what would happen if every ASEAN country united today to form a United ASEAN Superstate? As improbable as it sounds, it would still be interesting to explore this hypothetical scenario to shed some light on the true scale of ASEAN’s economic power and influence on the world stage.

1. ASEAN would be the third most populous country in the world.

The 10 member countries of ASEAN have a combined population of approximately 625 million people or about 8.8% of the world’s population. If ASEAN were a single country, it would have the third largest population in the world behind India (1.31 Billion) and China (1.39 Billion).

Keterangan Gambar (© Pemilik Gambar)

 

2. ASEAN would be the 7th largest country in the world by land area

The island of Sumba, Indonesia | travelingyuk.com
The island of Sumba, Indonesia | travelingyuk.com

ASEAN covers a land area of 4.4 million square kilometers, 3% of the total land area of Earth. When put on the world stage, it would be the 7th largest country, after Russia, Canada, US, China, Brazil, and Australia

3. ASEAN would be the world’s 6th largest economy

A united ASEAN Superstate would have a combined nominal GDP of over US$2.9 trillion. As a single entity, it would rank as the sixth largest economy in the world, behind the USA, China, Japan, India and Germany. It is projected to rank as the fourth-largest economy by 2050. The ASEAN economy would also have the third-largest labor force in the world, behind China and India.

4. ASEAN would have an incredibly diverse racial and religious make-up

A united ASEAN Superstate would be incredibly diverse. No single religion or race would constitute an outright majority of the population. With about 240 million adherents or 42% of the total population, Sunni Islam would be the largest religion in ASEAN. Buddhism would be practiced by 18% of the population followed closely behind by Christianity at 17%. The remaining 23% is a diverse mix of adherents of Folk Religions, Confucianism, Hindus, Agnostics and Atheists.

Vietnamese | content,.cp
Vietnamese | content,.cp

As a single entity, ASEAN would be the world’s largest Muslim country, the second largest Buddhist country and the fourth largest Christian country by population. 

ASEAN is even more racially diverse. Centuries of influence from India, China, the Arabs and the West produced an environment where no one people or religion is homogeneous. The largest ethnic group would be the Javanese with a population of 100 million or 16% of the population. This is followed by the Viets (75 Million / 12%), Thais (51 Million / 8%), Sundanese (39 Million / 6%), Chinese (33 Million / 5%), Bamars (30 Million / 4.8%) and Malays (28 Million / 4.5). The challenge facing the Government of a united ASEAN would be to somehow unite the hundreds of ethnic groups, each with its own unique culture and language.

5. ASEAN would have the world’s second largest military

With 1.827 Million active duty personnel, a united ASEAN would have the world’s second largest military, behind China (2.33 Million). With a combined military expenditure of US$38.2 Billion, ASEAN would have the world’s tenth largest military budget in the world, behind Germany. 

Singapore military | jap.co.jp
Singapore military | asiaone.com

As improbable as it sounds, entertaining the scenario of a single ASEAN superstate would give us a wider perspective of the inherent strengths and weaknesses of this institution. ASEAN’s strengths lies in its young, vibrant and diverse population. It is an emerging economy endowed with resources and a large labour force. However, it needs to strengthen its laws and institutions to stamp out corruption, human rights abuses poverty and income inequality.

If done right ASEAN, integration has the potential to propel Southeast Asia to become the next global superpower along with India and China.

Akhyari Hananto

I began my career in the banking industry in 1997, and stayed approx 6 years in it. This industry boost his knowledge about the economic condition in Indonesia, both macro and micro, and how to More understand it. My banking career continued in Yogyakarta when I joined in a program funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB),as the coordinator for a program aimed to help improve the quality of learning and teaching process in private universities in Yogyakarta. When the earthquake stroke Yogyakarta, I chose to join an international NGO working in the area of ?disaster response and management, which allows me to help rebuild the city, as well as other disaster-stricken area in Indonesia. I went on to become the coordinator for emergency response in the Asia Pacific region. Then I was assigned for 1 year in Cambodia, as a country coordinator mostly to deliver developmental programs (water and sanitation, education, livelihood). In 2009, he continued his career as a protocol and HR officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya, and two years later I joined the Political and Economic Section until now, where i have to deal with extensive range of people and government officials, as well as private and government institution troughout eastern Indonesia. I am the founder and Editor-in-Chief in Good News From Indonesia (GNFI), a growing and influential social media movement, and was selected as one of The Most Influential Netizen 2011 by The Marketeers magazine. I also wrote a book on "Fundamentals of Disaster Management in 2007"?, "Good News From Indonesia : Beragam Prestasi Anak Bangsa di dunia"? which was luanched in August 2013, and "Indonesia Bersyukur"? which is launched in Sept 2013. In 2014, 3 books were released in which i was one of the writer; "Indonesia Pelangi Dunia"?, "Indonesia The Untold Stories"? and "Growing! Meretas Jalan Kejayaan" I give lectures to students in lectures nationwide, sharing on full range of issues, from economy, to diplomacy Less
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