ASEAN Cybersecurity Securitization: Regime of Cooperation and Enmity

Abstract

This research aims to examine the key actors involved in the construction of the cybersecurity regime in the ASEAN region, as well as to study the factors and origins that drive the enforcement and maintenance of this regime. The study employs qualitative research through documentary analysis. The findings reveal that the main factors contributing to the construction of the ASEAN cybersecurity regime include securitizing actors such as ASEAN member states, international organizations, and civil society organizations. These actors play a crucial role in defining what constitutes a threat to regional security, influencing security discourse, and shaping ASEAN’s approach to addressing cybersecurity issues. Another key factor is the shared awareness of mutual threats, specifically, cyber threats which are transnational in nature, constantly evolving, and have significant impacts on both the economic and social dimensions of ASEAN. These threats also have cascading effects on other aspects of regional security, necessitating the development of various forms of cooperation within ASEAN and leading to the formation of the ASEAN cybersecurity regime. However, the ASEAN cybersecurity regime is not solely characterized by cooperation; it also embodies elements of cybersecurity enmity. This enmity arises from several factors, including the difference in interpretation, developmental disparities, political conflicts, and the involvement of external superpowers. The study suggests that ASEAN must develop a common approach to adapt in order to preserve regional security and stability, thus enabling its cybersecurity regime to grow in a stable, resilient, and sustainable manner. Future research can expand on this work by conducting in-depth studies of securitizing actors at the national level or by analyzing how external superpowers exert influence and play roles within the ASEAN’s cybersecurity landscape.