What we know as Southeast Asia today has largely been peripheral to world history, and it was only after the arrival of maritime colonialists from Europe that the region was gradually drawn into global politics. The region's role remained subordinate, however, and its peoples functioned as subalterns to external powers. During the Second World War, the region was invaded by the Japanese and throughout the war, it remained a minor theatre for the Europeans and Americans, engaged as they were in bigger battles elsewhere. Independence came to most peoples in the region against the backdrop of the Cold War, a circumstance that strongly influenced the state-building dynamics and the developmental policies of the new governments. Founding ASEAN was essentially a strategic move by the early members to limit external interference in the region and to enhance dialogue and security cooperation among themselves. It was only in the 1990s, after the Cold War had ended, that the regional organization was able to expand to embrace all countries within the region. Cambodia was the last, joining officially only in April 1999. East Timor remains an exception: having gained independence only on 20 May 2002. The Asian financial crisis heightened the importance of the ASEAN Plus Three forum that had begun meeting just a year earlier, and ASEAN's ties to Northeast Asia have become a top priority.

Going forward, ASEAN countries have in hand tools such as: the ASEAN Charter that it adopted in November 2007; the ASEAN Vision 2020 programme for achieving an integrated community by 2015; and almost 50 years of successful collaboration. Maintaining ASEAN centrality amidst the influence from global powers remains the organization's main concern.

In this section, noted analysts deliberate key challenges ASEAN faces. Rizal Sukma argues that greater acceptance of regional institutions is necessary for ASEAN to grow. Allan Gyngell debates the need for a less complex and more efficient regional architecture in the Asia-Pacific region as a whole. Emil Salim, in turn, maintains that the building of trust among member countries is vital — ASEAN centrality depends on it. With regard to the economic performance of the region, the skills and knowledge gap will have to be narrowed. Suthiphand Chirathivat and Piti Srisangnam discuss what will be needed for further economic integration beyond 2015.