viewed as a common good; non-conventional security challenges are tackled by regime-building. There is little progress in this direction in Southeast Asia. National sovereignty is still the most essential value in the Southeast Asian security discourse. ASEAN ministerial discussions about common security issues rarely go beyond non-binding declarations. Common security issues are seen as threats to be handled separately by member states, preferably by military force. Human security issues are also seen as issues to be dealt with by individual states. Unlike the Pacific littorals and Indian Ocean rim countries, Southeast Asia has so far failed to establish an early-warning system in response to the 2004 tsunami. ASEAN countries usually fail to recognise the highly complex nature of contemporary conflicts and the cognitive processes underlying them. Recent developments, including institutional building, suggest that Southeast Asian governments increasingly recognise the interdependent nature of security and the need for more cooperation. However, the following challenges still remain: Based on socialisation and historical experience, realist views of security are still deeply ingrained in the collective memory of Southeast Asian citizens. These cognitive barriers impede development of regional security institutions to the degree that is found in the OECD world. Even where proto-regimes have been built, they are often used as an arena for enhancing national influence.