Investing the ASEAN Way
Theories and Practices of Economic Integration in Southeast Asia

Using a sociology-led approach, this book explores regional law and governance in ASEAN through its regulation of foreign investment.

Sungjoon Cho (Author), Jürgen Kurtz (Author)

9781009223362, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 24 November 2022

324 pages
21.6 x 13.8 x 1.7 cm, 0.41 kg

'This book insightfully sketches out the evolution of the ASEAN investment regime, highlighting its distinctive features (such as a low level of legalization) and exploring some historical, cultural and political factors that shed light on this important regional regime. The volume presents a perceptive and thick analysis informed by international relations and economic theories.' Moshe Hirsch, Professor of Law, Von Hofmannsthal Professor of Law, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

In recent decades, South East Asia has become one of the world's most popular destinations for foreign investment. The member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have employed varying modalities to pursue first security and then economic cooperation. This book explores regional law and governance in ASEAN through the lens of its regulation of foreign investment. It adopts a new framework to identify the unique ontological autonomy of the ASEAN Investment Regime beyond a simple aggregation of its individual member states. It deploys a sociology-led approach (especially constructivism) and emphasizes ideational factors (such as culture and norms) that guide state actions from within. The book explores the manner in which ASEAN's history and culture have fundamentally shaped its foreign investment policies, leading to outcomes that often depart fundamentally from the external structure and script of Global Investment Law.

Introduction
1. The foundation of the ASEAN investment regime
2. Tracing influences on the ASEAN investment regime
3. Positioning of the ASEAN investment regime
4. Synthesis
Conclusion.

Subject Areas: International organisations & institutions [LBBU], International economic & trade law [LBBM], International economics [KCL], International relations [JPS]