A Comparative study of Humanitarian Emergency in EU and ASEAN Countries

Abstract

This study provides a comparative analysis of humanitarian issues concerning refugees and their impacts on state security in the European Union and ASEAN countries. The research objectives are: (1) to examine the humanitarian problems related to refugees in the European Union and ASEAN countries; (2) to comparatively study the humanitarian values and norms concerning refugees, the implementation of regional organizational cooperation frameworks, and state security intentions of countries in the European Union and ASEAN; and (3) to analyze and observe the contradictions between humanitarian principles and practices with state security and related matters. This qualitative research employs documentary research from primary and secondary sources and descriptive analysis methods.

          The findings reveal that: (1) Both the European Union and ASEAN countries currently serve as the targeted destinations for most of the refugees. However, the refugee crisis in European Union countries primarily stems from the influx of refugees from outside the region, which differs from ASEAN countries that face problems mainly from intra-regional refugees rather than those from outside the region. (2) Although European Union countries possess stronger humanitarian norms regarding refugees and regional organizational cooperation compared to ASEAN countries, both European Union and ASEAN countries still prioritize state security over humanitarian principles. (3) The contradiction between humanitarian principles and national security in European Union and ASEAN countries results from states that prioritize its own security as the primary decision-makers in refugee management policies. The research provides some policy recommendations for ASEAN countries to study the lessons learnt from European Union countries in order to improve the effectiveness of regional refugee crisis management.