Vorawan Chanvorawit 1

Multiculturalism and Its Effects

Our world consists of many countries and those countries create continents. When you
went to some countries, have you notice that the countries you have been to have some
difference among each other? As we can see from various countries in the world, they are
different in environment and also culture. Not only from the countries which far from each other
but, the countries that located in the same continent. The countries in the same continent might
have similar environment or climate but differ in their culture since it is based on their history.
History makes their cultures to be more unique among each other. One of the continents that
diverse in their cultures and will have more connections for economic in nearly future which is
Southeast Asia.
Southeast Asia is one part of the continent named Asia. Some might say that these
countries in Southeast Asia just have some slightly differences such as their appearance; it might
similar among citizens these countries. Some architecture might also resemble to each neighbor
countries. However, their histories and traditions that have been told are different. The difference
among people in each country is also their religion. These make cultures of the countries in
South East Asia diverse. Moreover, Southeast Asia countries have their union called The
Association of Southeast Asian Nations or known for ASEAN. They will establish ASEAN
Economic Community or AEC in the future in order to make the benefits for those countries.
This will increase the opportunities not only in economic but also travel and occupation.1
ASEAN Economic Community will also raise the connections among the cultural
diversity in Southeast Asia regions. Cultural diversity is one of the factors, which can affect to
the countries development in both economic progress and politics. Within the nations, there is at

Vorawan Chanvorawit 2
least a slightly diverse culture in each country. Among the countries in Southeast Asia, Malaysia,
Indonesia, and Singapore have the high diversity in their cultures. However, during the past
decades, there are conflicts within the Southeast Asian nations. These events were mostly caused
by the cultural diversity, differences in their thoughts, and religious beliefs.2
As it is previously mentioned before that there is a high cultural diversity in Malaysia,
Indonesia, and Singapore, their nations are differ in various ways and each country deal with
their issues differently. In Malaysia, the government tries to promote unity in the country by
using the OneMalaysia campaign while there are still tensions between different cultures.3 In
Singapore, cultural diversity is concerned in the country with the business opportunities that
drives the nation. But, there is still a problem about the country national identity that leaders still
consider.4 In Indonesia, the country has the national motto says, unity is diversity, but the
country still struggle with the lack of unity within the countrys islands.5 Meanwhile in Bali, one
of the islands of Indonesia, they uses the cultural diversity as their strong point to develop their
tourism and business.6 Bali is one of the examples that shows the advantage of the cultural
diversity toward its tourism and economic.
Although the cultural diversity causes the conflicts in the Southeast Asia countries, it still
makes the nations to be unique and attractive. Culture is not something immovable; the diversity
in culture is also flexible. It can change over the time and as peoples attitudes change. Everyone
wants the world to be in peace, but if the peace that we get is suppressed other cultures then there
wont be the happiness in our peace.

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References
1. (n.d.). About ASEAN. Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Retrieved November 27,
2015 from http://www.asean.org/asean/about-asean/
2. Awomi, A. (n.d.). Ethnic groups of Southeast Asia. Academia. Retrieved November 30,
2015 from http://www.academia.edu/6417140/Ethnic_groups_of_Southeast_Asia
3. Ali M. (2011). Multiculturalism in Southeast Asia. The Jakarta Post. Retrieved November
28, 2015 from http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/12/09/multiculturalismsoutheast-asia.html
4. Cotterell, A. (2014). A History of Southeast Asia. Marshall Cavendish Internaional.
5. Peletz, G. M. (n.d.). Diversity and Unity. Asia Society. Retrieved November 29, 2015
from http://asiasociety.org/education/diversity-and-unity
6. Loots, Willem. (2013). Your letters: Multiculturalism and tourism promotion. The Jakarta
Post. Retrieved April 18, 2016 from
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/06/05/your-letters-multiculturalism-andtourism-promotion.html