ASEAN Member States' Natural Disaster Approach: A Discourse Analysis of AMS Speeches Performed in Intergovernmental Fora and Conferences

Abstract

Multiple hazards intersect in the Southeast Asian region, making it extremely susceptible to natural disaster occurrences. Due to the significant loss of life, livelihood, and infrastructure ASEAN Member States (AMS) experience, Southeast Asia has been placed under careful scrutiny by the international community. Existing literature generally have a critical discourse on the region’s approach to natural disaster management. Although these criticisms are valid, they are devoid of the contextual realities faced by the region. Throughout the discussions, the “voice” of the AMS is muted. This research, therefore, is interested in uncovering this muted voice by emerging the AMS discourse in their natural disaster approach. This study answered the following questions: (1) How is natural disaster in the ASEAN region discursively constructed? and (2) What are the consequences or outcomes arising from the construction of “natural disaster” in the ASEAN region? In its analysis, this study utilized discourse analysis as operationalized by Gee (1999). Language and thoughts are inextricably intertwined. As such, examining discourse is one way of affecting and accessing social reality. Through analyzing AMS speeches performed in intergovernmental fora and conferences, this research uncovered three distinct themes in the AMS’ discourse on natural disaster, (1) Climate Change and Natural Disaster Events are Intertwined, (2) Southeast Asia as the Victim, and (3) the West as the Offender, and their corresponding consequences, (1) Southeast Asia sees the International Platform as a Space Where They Need to Lobby their Natural Disaster Experience, (2) Southeast Asia as a Constrained Actor in Dealing with Natural Disaster, and (3) Southeast Asia is Seeking Accountability from the West. The results of this study suggest the need for stronger consensus-building with the international community in seeking accountability from the West for the natural disaster challenges they have created.