Southeast Asia and U.S. Security
Abstract
The Southeast Asia region consists of the following countries Brunei, Burma Cambodia Indonesia Laos, Malaysia Philippines, Singapore Thailand and Vietnam For the purpose of this paper, Southeast Asia also includes Australia and New Zealand The Southeast Asia region is impressive for its diversity and dynamism Geographically, it embraces a broad swath of archipelagos and the mainland of Southeast Asia Few characteristics link the region into a cohesive whole other than its geographic proximity and tropical climate/ecology However, the countries in the region share other bonds a colonial past, a postwar struggle for independence and modernization, a religious penetration of animism by Islam Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity, an emerging manufacturing economy and a local government based on a strong village culture Its ethnic and religious diversity blends with some of the world's richest cultures The region includes one of the last communist regimes in the world (Vietnam), as well as free societies such as Australia and newer democratically elected governments in Thailand, Philippines, and Cambodia The influence of European colonialization had a major cultural and economic impact on Southeast Asia because every country was colonized with the exception of Thailand Immigrants from China were brought in as workers and to help establish trade networks for the spices and natural resources When the colonists departed, the Chinese became the ethnic business powerhouse in many of the countries in the Southeast Asia region.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA441405
Entities
People
- James Sporn
- Michael Byers
- R. W. Clark Jr.
Organizations
- National War College