The book is concerned with ASEAN’s declared intention to create a security community that is people-oriented. The hypothesis is that in order for ASEAN to establish such a security community in Southeast Asia it is necessary for non-state actors to become part of the process. These non-state actors, captured in the broad umbrella term of civil society organisations (CSOs), play a critical role in both facilitating a process of social learning and providing specific expertise in various issue areas ASEAN has identified in its ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) blueprints. The need for plurality in the community building process has been recognised by ASEAN and rhetorically is captured in the notion of ASEAN being people-oriented. What this means, and how ASEAN engages with the people , will give important insights into what type of community ASEAN is building and for our understanding of security communities more broadly.