Rule of Law as a Framework within the ASEAN Community

As the ASEAN moves towards its vision of a 'Community,' enforceability and consistency of legal standards, broadly the "rule of law," have drawn attention due to their impact on the predictability of social environments, with consequences for markets, people, and policy makers. This paper draws together recent findings and suggests ASEAN States have made significant progress but remain in a state of transition. These findings support Barry Weingast's prediction that developing countries are more likely to create consistent rules and move to "open access orders" in line with requirements for development, rather than install artificial enforcement mechanisms before growth.