Regional Security Organisations and Their Role in International Security Architecture: The African Union, SCO and ASEAN

Since the conclusion of the Cold War, global security architecture has undergone substantial change. Complex, transnational challenges—including pandemics, cyberattacks, terrorism, and climate disasters—now increasingly converge with traditional interstate wars, often involving non-state actors. In the face of these complex problems, international institutions like the United Nations (UN) have at times been unable to effectively safeguard security or handle emergencies. Consequently, the global security architecture now places a greater emphasis on regional security organisations (RSOs).

This article argues that regional organisations, specifically the African Union (AU), the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), perform an increasingly significant role in dealing with specific security challenges within their regions, resulting in a complicated but critical interaction with the wider global framework. Their distinct security methodologies, interaction with the global framework, and conditions contributing to their growth will be examined.

The Rise of Regional Security Organisations: Reasons and Theories

The growing acceptance of RSOs is a result of their fundamental strengths in handling current security concerns. Due to their close proximity, they are able to recognize localised dynamics, historical grievances and traditions that can be overlooked by distant universal institutions. This adapted understanding may result in stronger and more context-specific approaches. Furthermore, due to their limited memberships, RSO’s typically have more rapid decision-making procedures and practical skills which allows faster responses to developing emergencies. Member states often have comparable interests in preserving stability in the region which strengthens the rationale for collaborative defence actions.

The UN Charter’s Chapter VIII Article 52, which specifically allows regional partnerships to address issues associated with the preservation of international peace and security, additionally recognises the legitimacy of RSOs as long as their activities are in line with the UN’s goals and values (United Nations, 2023). Theoretically, the growth is consistent with constructivism which indicates how common norms, identities, and understandings within a given region can support the formation of stable organisations and neo-liberal institutionalism which requires that states collaborate across the region to accomplish collective benefits.

Examples of Regional Security Organisations and their Approaches

African Union

By promoting an agenda focused on “African Solutions to African Problems”, the African Union (AU) stresses the African continent’s responsibility for handling its security and peacekeeping challenges. A significant commitment to resolving internal problems is demonstrated by its extensive African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and powerful Peace and Security Council (PSC). A remarkable divergence from conventional non-interference standards, the AU’s founding act enables intervention in catastrophic circumstances such as war crimes and genocide, reflecting an emphasis on individual security. The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM, now ATMIS) is a prime instance of its broad involvement in peace operations which underlines its direct involvement in areas of conflict (Williams, 2015). The AU proves increasing ability to maintain peace and stabilize the after-conflict environment despite ongoing obstacles including logistical and financial assistance (Dersso, 2013).

Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Terrorism, separatism, and extremism are the “three evils” that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) mainly intends to combat. Under the leadership of Russia and China, the organization prioritizes intelligence sharing, joint military drills and security cooperation, especially throughout Central Asia. SCO’s view of security is based on the concepts of state sovereignty and non-interference in domestic matters, granting regional stability priority over more general human rights concerns. The initiatives to improve border security between member states and counter-terrorism activities such as “Peace Mission” are two examples (Weitz, 2006).

In order to support the stability of the regimes in the member countries and promote a multi-polar global order, the SCO represents an understanding of regional order that frequently differs from Western security paradigms (Rolland, 2019).

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

The “ASEAN Way” which promotes informal dialogue, consensus-building, and non-interference in the domestic affairs of member states is what characterizes ASEAN security doctrine. The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is one platform that assists regional and external powers’ discussion on conventional and unconventional security challenges.

ASEAN has a broad view of security that includes military elements as well as political, economic and sociocultural components. Although it is not so concerned with direct military involvement, ASEAN is vital for disaster relief cooperation, regional confidence-building and diplomatically resolving challenging obstacles such as the South China Sea conflicts. When it comes to dealing with local emergencies like the situation in Myanmar, this non-interventionist approach has come under fire (Emmers, 2016).

The RSOs’ Place and Interaction within Global Security Architecture

As RSOs gain greater influence, global security governance is dramatically shifting, which has resulted in an evolving relationship with the UN. RSOs are capable of dealing with issues related to preserving international peace and security and they often operate under Chapter VIII, particularly Article 52, of the UN Charter. As vital “first responders”, they use their local expertise and flexibility to prevent conflicts and conduct peace operations (United Nations, 2023). Tension and harmony coexist in this relationship.

The divergent norms—such as the AU’s more assertive attitude on intervention versus the SCO’s emphasis on non-interference principle—can cause controversy even when RSOs minimize the workload of international organizations. Although some RSOs’ great power rivalries can occasionally call into question universal norms, these organizations certainly improve global security by providing localised solutions and encouraging a more scattered, adaptable structure.

To sum up, the post-Cold War age undoubtedly raised the importance of regional security organisations in the architecture of international security. The African Union, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and ASEAN are examples of RSOs that have become significant stakeholders as universal organizations such the UN struggle to deal with complex and evolving concerns. These organizations demonstrate a complementary relationship with the UN while also facing specific challenges such as internal moral distinctions and external great power influences. They employ various approaches that are tailored to their regional conditions. In the end, their growing capability and regional solutions are essential for a more scattered, flexible and efficient international security structure.

Bibliography

Dersso, Solomon A. “The African Union’s Norms on Unconstitutional Changes of
Government: A Decade of Implementation.” ISS Paper 244. Institute for Security Studies, 2013. Accessed July 21, 2025. https://issafrica.org/research/papers/african-unions-norms-onunconstitutional-changes-of-government-a-decade-of-implementation

Emmers, Ralf. “Comprehensive Security and ASEAN: Reassessing the ASEAN Way of Security Cooperation.” NISS Working Paper No. 1, Nanyang Technological University, 2016. Accessed July 21, 2025. https://www.rsis.edu.sg/wpcontent/uploads/2016/06/NISS_WP_No_1.pdf

Rolland, Nadege. “China’s Vision for a New World Order: A Commentary on the White
Paper on China’s National Defense in the New Era.” National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR), 2019. Accessed July 21, 2025. https://www.nbr.org/publication/chinas-vision-for-anew-world-order/

United Nations. A New Agenda for Peace. 2023. Accessed July 21, 2025. https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/4015374/files/A_77_CRP.1_Add.8-EN.pdf

Weitz, Richard. “The Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the War on Terror.” Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College, 2006. Accessed July 21, 2025. https://press.armywarcollege.edu/monographs/176/

Williams, Paul D. “Enhancing African Capacity for Peace Operations: Some New Thinking.” Africa Center for Strategic Studies, 2015. Accessed July 21, 2025. https://africacenter.org/publication/enhancing-african-capacity-peace-operations-newthinking/