SOUTHEAST ASIA: AN OVERVIEW

1. What kind of impact did India and China have on the cultures and societies of Southeast Asia? (pp.5-7)
Except for the Philippines and Vietnam, Southeast Asian kingdoms were influenced by India in religion,
government, law, architecture and arts such as sculpture, dance and music. The Indian cultural impact took place
from about 300 to 1300 not through conquest or colonization, but peacefully through the spread of ideas by traders
and religious teachers. Sanskrit words have enriched the vocabularies of languages in Southeast Asia. China’s
cultural influence was less extensive than India’s, confined mainly to Vietnam which was ruled by the Chinese
for a thousand years. Confucianism was brought to Vietnam, and China had settled in Southeast Asia for
generation, adopting local cultures and playing important roles in business or political affairs. There were often
strong Chinese trade links with Southeast Asia.
2. What have been the positive and negative legacies of colonialism in Southeast Asia? (p.9)
Western colonialism in Southeast Asia resulted in the indignities of foreign domination and discrimination
against the local people as well as the economic exploitation of the colonies for the benefit of the colonial power.
However, to derive economic benefits from their possessions, the colonial powers built infrastructure like roads,
railways, ports and power station and developed plantation agriculture like rubber and modern mining operations
to extract minerals and metals. They set up schools, a few colleges and universities to train local professional like
doctors, lawyers and engineers. They also established Western institutions of government, legal systems,
judiciaries and the rule of law, and generally maintained peace with law and order.
3. Why was Thailand not colonized by the western powers when every other country in Southeast Asia
was?
Thailand was spared in part because of an understanding between the British and the French to preserve
it as a buffer state between their perspective possessions, in part because of skillful Thai diplomacy.
4. Why are there such different political systems in Southeast Asia? (p.18)
The many changes and modifications to the political system in Southeast Asia countries since the end of
the Second World War indicate that these systems are still works in progress. This is not surprising in view of
their relatively short post-colonial existence, the continuing influence of old political cultures and the prevailing
political, ethnic and religious cleavages in these societies.
5. Explain why there is wide disparities in economic and social development between different countries of
Southeast Asia.
- Western colonialism and its impact on each country varies.
- Civil wars and insurgencies
- Each country picked up different political systems.
- Southeast Asian countries’ starting points were different.
 THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN)
1. Is it important for young people to learn about Southeast Asia? Why? (p.244-pa.2)
Yes, it is because the region was both blessed and burdened by a great diversity of races, languages,
cultures, religions, ethnic origins, historical legacies and experiences, development levels, political, economic and
social philosophies, and strategic outlooks – among the nations of Southeast Asia and within them. Thus,
diversity, enriching as it was, could also easily upset the stability of the region or any country in it. It could just
as easily be exploited by neighbors or external powers for their own national purposes.
2. Is it important for people on Southeast Asia to develop, over time, a stronger sense of regional identity?
Why? (pp.255-257)
Yes, it is. Although ASEAN has come a long way on cultivating mutual trust among its members, some
mutual suspicion still needs to be overcome. This requires a deeper sense of regional community and regional
identity, which means a stronger identification of the country’s and its leadership’s interests with the progress of
the region. According to a recent survey of over 2000 university undergraduates in all ten ASEAN member
countries, nearly 90 per cent believed that membership in ASEAN was good for their countries, while almost 70
per cent felt that it benefited them personally. In addition to education, information and public advocacy, a sense
of community is fostered by and manifested in the capacity and willingness of the ASEAN countries to cooperate
in dealing with the transactional problems that they all confront. To deepen ASEAN cooperation tackling common
regional problems, ASEAN member countries need handle them only on a regional scale and cooperate with one
another on them to strengthen the sense if community and regional identity among the governments and peoples
of Southeast Asia, a sense that is, in turn, necessary for regional security, political cohesion and stability, and
regional economic integration.
3. What is the value of integrating the regional economy for the people of Southeast Asia? (pp.250, pp.251)
Economy integration anchors amicable and productive relations, mutual trust and cooperation among the
nations of Southeast Asia in their common stake in the regional economy. A large regional market would make
the national economies, give consumers wider choices, attract investments to the area, and thus stimulate
economic activity and generate jobs.
4. What, in your opinion, have been ASEAN’s leading achievements in over forty years of its existence?
ASEAN’s networks and processes, commitments and norms have helped keep the peace in the region. It
has been a force for stability in Southeast Asia, East Asia and beyond. It has laid foundations for regional
economic integrations, set frameworks and practices for cooperation in dealing with transactional problems, and
helped to shape a regional consciousness. ASEAN is open to friendship and good and productive relations with
the rest of the world. It has also attracted the engagement of the major powers and others that have interests in the
region and seek influence there, becoming a model for other developing countries in other parts of the world.
5. What are the main obstacles to achieving stronger political cohesion, deeper economic integration, and
more effective cooperation in ASEAN? (pp.254-255)
Some countries lack the expertise, equipment or funds for certain measures to integrate the regional
economy. Some countries fear that their industries cannot withstand the increased competition from others in the
region and are not confident that their economies can adjust to and find niches in a broader market. Some
governments find it difficult to undertake the necessary improvements in the investment climate, so that they have
a better chance of capturing the investments that are supposed to be attracted by an integrated regional market.
Others are reluctant or unwilling to carry out the required administrative reforms, as in customs.