Language Policy Context of ASEAN

This chapter provides an introduction about language policy and planning (hereafter, LPP) of international organisations and rationalises the selection of Association of South East Nations (ASEAN) in this book. The chapter then presents an overview of ASEAN as an intergovernmental organisation, within which the ASEAN Way is introduced as part of the ASEAN’s institutional norms. The next section explicates the role and history of English in ASEAN. Here, we attempt to problematise the English–only regime in ASEAN. Following on that, we describe the inherent regional linguistic and cultural diversity of the region before delving into the (English) LPP situation of the Southeast Asian region. The chapter culminates with a brief discussion of English language policy and practices within each of the ten ASEAN member-states.