On the historic occasion of the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2007, the leaders of the ten-member countries signed the ASEAN Charter. This is an important milestone for the regional group as the Charter will make ASEAN stronger, more united and more effective. The Charter embodies the ASEAN community''s purposes and principles, organs and decision-making process; a new legal personality; a system for the settlement of disputes; and an ASEAN Human Rights Body.The Making of the ASEAN Charter captures the insiders'' views of the drafting of the Charter and hence is a must-read for anyone interested in ASEAN, international law and the art and science of negotiations.
