ALSA 2025 meeting

The constitutional and political development of Asian states has been vibrant and dynamic. While some have advanced toward democratic constitutionalism, others have witnessed a return to authoritarian rule. A similar pattern can be observed in Southeast Asia: while certain states are preparing for another round of elections, Myanmar’s elections remain suspended under military rule following the 2021 coup. Further, although textual changes to constitutions are relatively rare, both progressive and regressive developments can be observed in states’ constitutional practices. This raises questions about the underlying drivers of these developments within the regional context.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), composed of ten member states with diverse governmental structures, cultures, and levels of democratization, has since its 2007 transformation adopted the rhetoric of promoting human rights and democracy. However, the trajectories of its member states remain divergent. This paper aims to present an overview of constitutional progress and regression in Southeast Asia by examining developments across the ten ASEAN member states. It further seeks to identify regional factors that may drive these changes—for better or for worse. ASEAN’s responses to regime changes and human rights violations, organizational culture, as well as the translation or dilution of international norms at the regional level, are likely to play a critical role.