Asean deserves the Nobel peace prize

In anticipation of this significant event, Chulalongkorn University recently organised the launch of the Thai-language version of an exceptional book, “The Asean Miracle: A Catalyst for Peace”, by Kishore Mahbubani and Jeffrey Sng, a comprehensive monograph initially published by the National University of Singapore Press.  
The book explains in detail how, on August 8, 1967, the leaders of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand struck a landmark agreement by signing the Bangkok Declaration, which is in fact the birth certificate of Asean.  
After 51 years and with five additional countries becoming members – Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei and Myanmar – this original alliance represents “one of the world’s most successful collaborations” and is forecast to become the fourth-largest economy on our planet by 2050. 
Asean has already offered the model of the only truly multi-civilisational regional organisation in the world, which achieved its crucial political objective of lasting regional peace and stability, which in itself is a vital accomplishment.
This historic reality prompted the two authors to advance the proposal of awarding this regional institution the Nobel Peace Prize, which would attract global attention to a beacon of hope emerging on the world stage
Ioan Voicu
Bangkok