[ABSTRAKTesis ini berfokus pada eksistensi ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) di tengah trenbilateralisme kawasan Asia Tenggara. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untukmenganalisis strategi yang digunakan pemerintah negara-negara di kawasan AsiaTenggara dan negara-negara ekstra-regional khususnya Tiongkok dan AmerikaSerikat di ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). Aktor-aktor tersebut saling menjaga satusama lain untuk terlibat secara konstruktif di kawasan berbasis norma-normakooperatif yang dapat membantu mereka untuk mencapai kepentingan nasional danmencegah munculnya hegemoni intramural di wilayah Asia Pasifik. Penelitian inimenggunakan pendekatan kualitatif. Selain itu, penelitian ini menggunakan kerangkaTeori Balance of Influence yang diwujudkan kedalam strategi Hedging untukmenganalisis fenomena yang terjadi. Penelitian ini menemukan bahwa meskipunberada di tengah-tengah tren bilateralisme, aktor-aktor yang terlibat didalam ARFtetap mempertahankan forum ini karena model dialog dan penyelesaian ARF telahberhasil menjaga perimbangan kekuatan-kekuatan ekstra-regional di kawasan.

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ABSTRACTThis research focuses on the existence of ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) within theBilateralism Trend in Southeast Asia. The purpose of this study was to analyze thestrategy of Southeast Asian governments and extra-regional powers used (especiallyChina and US) to keep each other constructively and cooperatively engaged in theregion and to promote rule and norm-based arrangements and principles that helpthem to achieve their national interest and deny intramural hegemony in the AsiaPacific region. This study used qualitative approach. In addition, this study uses theframework of Balance of Influence Theory that embodied into Hedging Strategy toanalyze the phenomenon that occurs. This study found that despite the bilateralismtrends, the actors that involved in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) decided toretain this forum because its dialogue and settlement models have managed tomaintain the balance of extra-regional state power in Southeast Asia., This research focuses on the existence of ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) within theBilateralism Trend in Southeast Asia. The purpose of this study was to analyze thestrategy of Southeast Asian governments and extra-regional powers used (especiallyChina and US) to keep each other constructively and cooperatively engaged in theregion and to promote rule and norm-based arrangements and principles that helpthem to achieve their national interest and deny intramural hegemony in the AsiaPacific region. This study used qualitative approach. In addition, this study uses theframework of Balance of Influence Theory that embodied into Hedging Strategy toanalyze the phenomenon that occurs. This study found that despite the bilateralismtrends, the actors that involved in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) decided toretain this forum because its dialogue and settlement models have managed tomaintain the balance of extra-regional state power in Southeast Asia.]