volume-16-number-3

Author: Romeo B. Lee

Year: 2017, Volume 16 Number 3

Pages: 1-15

“Human security” is rather a new concept in ASEAN’s security discourse. Unlike the EU that was confronted with intense pressures to adopt human security in the late 1990s, ASEAN has made virtually no reference to human security in its official documents. Instead, it relied on concepts such as “people-centeredness” which can be interpreted with multiple meanings. From the Vientiane Action Programme 2004–2010, the idea of a people-centered ASEAN has been emphasized and introduced as one of the three pillars of ASEAN Community building. In the discourse on ASEAN, the notion of people centered tends to be employed in connection with certain types of threat, for example, disaster, poverty, environmental issues, diseases, transnational crimes, and trafficking, which are also prominent in the human security literature. Thus, this paper argues that the state-centric, non-interference “ASEAN Way” has been evolving to embrace human security perspectives to an unprecedented degree. It demonstrates that this transformative change has resulted from three main catalysts: transnational challenges in the region, the influence of Japanese development aid, and the role of multilateral “tracked” diplomacy. It concludes that human security is certainly compatible with the new interpretation of the ASEAN Way as the notion of “people-centricity” may be integrated into a strategy to make the public more responsive to the execution of ASEAN policies and to demonstrate the direct benefits for the citizen from cooperation.

Keywords: Human Security, ASEAN, the ASEAN way, regional governance

Pages: 16-29

The study aims to define and critically assess Singaporean youths’ Internet use through “bonding” and “autonomy” using the data presented in the Singapore’s National Youth Council report in 2015. Bonding as an analytical concept implies social interaction which forms cohesion, ties, and relationship with others via the Internet. Autonomy meanwhile specifies personal freedom to express oneself and a commitment towards participating online and/or offline in socio-political discussions and activities. Using critical discourse analysis (CDA), the paper interrogates the dominant social order and how it operates within economic, political, and discursive contexts by examining a counter discourse presented in two of Amos Yee’s YouTube videos. It also seeks to illustrate how identity politics of the youth may have the power to critique this social order within the realm of the Internet or how it may fail in the light of Singapore’s experience.

Keywords: bonding, autonomy, Singapore, Amos Yee, critical discourse analysis, ASEAN

Pages: 30-45

Since the main goal of tourism is to run a business responding to customer needs, tourist expectations and satisfaction are deemed two main components measuring the quality of tourism. This study compares the expectations and satisfaction of Chinese tourists toward tourism services in Thailand. The subjects of the study are two groups of Chinese tourists categorized by their income. These are labeled throughout this paper as “general” (denoting lower-income Chinese tourists) and “quality” (denoting higher-income Chinese tourists). A survey study methodology was used to collect data using a questionnaire completed by 435 general tourists and 413 quality tourists. Importance–Performance Analysis was applied to examine the expectations and satisfaction of the tourists toward seven attributes of Thailand tourist destinations. The findings reveal that the majority of the general Chinese tourists travel with their tour operators while most of the quality Chinese tourists plan their trips and travel by themselves. The quality tourists usually face difficulties with immigration and access to tourist attractions. However, both tourist groups are satisfied with the beauty of the attractions and their hotels. The study suggests some guidelines which may be useful to the government of Thailand or the tourism business owners to help develop tourism which meets the demands of the target tourist groups.

Keywords: tourism management, Thai tourism, satisfaction, expectation, Chinese tourists, importance–performance analysis

Pages: 46-64

This article examines two aspects of migration control in Malaysia. First, it deals with the question of how the securitization of border control is tied to a wider dynamics of national interest. Based on the notions of “security versus facilities,” this article contextualizes how the institutional sites of governance are frustrated by the open-border policy and a liberal visa policy. Second, the paper argues that internal enforcement is a neglected part of the state’s migration control. As a self-proclaimed country of “zero irregular migrants,” Malaysia has relied heavily on external control: militarizing border crossings and criminalizing irregular migrants through raids, detention, and deportation. The study used a hybrid technique of data collection which integrates elite interviews, official publications, and online news media. The paper highlights a pressing need to formulate a critical approach to internal enforcement. A shift to internal control—identification, surveillance, and employer inspections—is crucial in addressing the root causes of migration, though controlling physical borders is still important.

Keywords: migration control, border security, interior enforcement, surveillance, Malaysia

Pages: 65-82

Research was reviewed globally from mobile/cellular carriers to develop the six antecedents (customer satisfaction, perceived service quality, customer trust, corporate image, perceived value, and perceived switching costs) contributing to mobile customer loyalty in Thailand. Data were drawn from interviews with 515 Thai mobile users, who were asked about customer satisfaction, service quality perceptions, and customer loyalty. Findings suggest that perceived service quality and value have a direct positive influence on customer satisfaction: if the customer’s perception of service quality and customer satisfaction is high, it has a strong influence on customer loyalty. Additionally, if the perceived service quality is high, it has a direct impact on perceived value and customer satisfaction, in terms of price, value, terms, and reasonable carrier services. Finally, perception regarding switching costs is recognized in non-monetary terms and plays a key role influencing customer loyalty.

Keywords: ASEAN, cellular services, customer satisfaction, service quality, customer satisfaction, Thailand

Pages: 83-95

The health and wellness food and beverage market is projected to grow to $US1.1 trillion by 2019 with 1.8 billion technology enabled, health conscious Gen Y/Millennial consumers leading the way. This study investigates new ways of evaluating purchase intention using integrated marketing communications, brand equity, and brand attitude embracing new Internet-related mediums such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and new devices such as smartphones and tablets. Modern brand equity campaigns must also be culturally aware as Generation Y Asian youth represent the consumer of tomorrow with many global brands embracing new technologies to grow their markets. From the results of the study conducted on a health-conscious segment of 280 Bangkok Generation Y/millennial consumers, it was determined that brand equity had the largest influence on purchase intention of antioxidants beverages. Value and quality also determine the success of sales with culture and technology playing a significant role in integrated marketing communications.

Keywords: brand attitude, brand equity, health and wellness, integrated marketing communications, purchase intention

Pages: 96-117

At the start of 2016, the 10-member nation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) entered a new era. With it, came the decade old start of the implementation of the 2005 mutual recognition arrangement (MRA) on engineering services and the free flow of skilled labor (FFSL). Although noble intentions, actual specifications and qualifications for this movement heavily restrict its actual implementation. This study therefore conducted both a quantitative and qualitative analyse of 412 engineers selected from a population of 1,211 Thai Federation of Industries companies to investigate how need, gap, and competency affect readiness. The structural equation model was conducted with AMOS 21 software and from the analysis, competency (b =0.16) and needs (b =0.77) demonstrated a significant effect on readiness, while needs demonstrated a significant effect on gap. Finally, the research determined that less than 1% were certified as ASEAN engineers, which is a pre-condition for registration for work as an engineer in another ASEAN country, with cultural awareness of other member nations ranked as the weakest link in an engineer’s readiness perception.

Keywords: ACPE, APEC, competency, FFSL, gap, MRA, need, registered foreign professional engineer

Authors: Pajaree Ackaradejruangsri and John Paolo R. Rivera

Research Brief

Year 2017, Volume 16, Number 3
Pages: 118-128

Authors: Roberto E. Javier Jr., Marlon D.L. Era, and Cristina A. Rodriguez

Research Brief

Year 2017, Volume 16, Number 3
Pages: 129-134

Authors: Hanafah Harvey, Fumitaka Furuoka and Qaiser Munir

Research Brief

Year 2017, Volume 16, Number 3
Pages: 135-140

Authors: Grachel Manguni and Tom De Herdt

Research Brief

Year 2017, Volume 16 Number 3
Pages 141-148