The ASEAN Way: A Path to Unity in the United Nations? : A Quantitative Study of ASEAN’s Voting Cohesion in the UNGA During 2008-2022

This study examines the voting cohesion of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) from 2008 to 2022, assessing the extent to which ASEAN can act as a cohesive voting bloc in international settings. Using a quantitative research design, the study analyzes roll-call resolutions from the UNGA to calculate ASEAN’s cohesion score with the Agreement Index. The results are compared to ASEAN’s cohesion scores in the past, as well as to other regional organizations and alliances. The analysis reveals that voting cohesion has decreased slightly from 1991-2008 to 2008-2022, from 0.931 to 0.921. Seeing as the decrease is marginal, the study establishes that voting cohesion for ASEAN has remained stable over time. Resolutions concerning the situation in Myanmar demonstrated a significant lower cohesion, highlighting the internal divisions on the non-interference norm practiced by ASEAN. ASEAN also finds difficulty in coordinating their preference on resolutions addressing human rights condemnation and death penalty. By benchmarking the cohesion score of ASEAN to BRICS, EU, Northeast Asia, CCTS and the UNGA average, the study found ASEAN’s cohesion to be among the highest. The study contributes to increasing understanding of ASEAN as an actor in international settings, and its ability to coordinate preferences.