The political and social systems in Southeast Asia have created varied conditions for security sector governance, each with its own sets of issues that need to be addressed. The inception of the ASEAN Charter has made democracy, one of, if not be the, principal goals of political development, creating a common ground for reforming security sector governance even in the face of the region’s politically diverse character.

Outside of the Charter, security sector governance is equally important given the challenges posed by ongoing political transitions and democratization among ASEAN’s member states. While some member states have already transitioned from authoritarian, military-led regimes, each state’s stability and ability to provide security – especially human security – remain fragile. The issues concerning the latter are played out in different political conditions, and their effects on intra- and inter-state relations reflect on the various ways security sector governance is implemented across the region.
(As provided by author)

Some noteworthy findings are listed below.

• one of the overarching goals of the ASEAN coalition is an emphasis on democracy, human rights, and good governance
• by establishing clear, quantifiable goals, donors and the international community can step in, assist with capacity building, and create measurable goals
• non-democratic ASEAN member states are a different animal to be treated with discretion; a plan of action needs to be formulated to create a favorable SSG environment
• an emphasis on the region becoming more outward-looking, where interconnectedness and interdependence are the name of the game
• the media should create awareness and bring dialogue about security governance into the public sphere