Southeast Asia is one of the world's most diverse and complex regions. At times it has been a beacon of hope for the developing world, at other times it has been synonymous with insecurity and economic failure. The second edition of this popular and critically acclaimed text has been extensively revised throughout and provides up-to-date coverage of the forces and dynamics that are shaping the region at both the national and regional level. Contemporary Southeast Asia contains specially commissioned chapters -- including seven which are entirely new to this edition -- from leading area specialists. Carefully edited to ensure systematic coverage of key areas, it provides an accessible and thematically-structured comparative introduction to Southeast Asia and its distinctive patterns of strategic, political, economic and social organisation.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Making Sense of Southeast Asia; M.Beeson The Historical Context; R.Elson The End of Empire and the Cold War; M.T.Berger The Political Economy of Southeast Asia; G.Felker Public Policy; S.Fritzen The Evolution of Democratic Politics; W.Case Communitarian Politics of the East; C.Beng Huat Civil Society in Southeast Asia; C.Hughes Ethnic and Nationalist Politics in Southeast Asia; D.Brown Islam in Southeast Asia; G.Fealy The Pursuit of Security in Southeast Asia; A.Bellamy China and Southeast Asia; A.Ba Japan and Southeast Asia; J.Gilson The US and Southeast Asia; J.Dorsch Meeting the Challenges of Region-building in ASEAN; R.Stubbs Environmental Challenges, Policy Failure and Regional Dynamics in Southeast Asia; L.Elliott Southeast Asia in the Future; M.Beeson

About the Author

MARK BEESON is Professor of International Politics at the University of Birmingham, UK. Other recent books include Securing Southeast Asia (with Alex Bellamy), Regionalism, Globalization and East Asia, and Institutions of the Asia Pacific.

Prizes

ALICE BA is Associate Professor in Political Science and International Relations, University of Delaware, USA MARK BEESON is Professor of International Politics, University of Birmingham, UK ALEX J BELLAMY is Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Queensland, Australia MARK T. BERGER is a Visiting Professor, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, USA DAVID BROWN is an Associate Professor, Murdoch University, Australia William Case is a Professor, City University of Hong Kong CHUA BENG HUAT is a Professor, National University of Singapore JOERN DOSCH is Professor of Asia Pacific Studies, University of Leeds, UK LORRAINE ELLIOTT is a Senior Fellow, Australian National University, Australia ROBERT ELSON is Professor of Southeast Asian History, University of Queensland, Australia GREG FEALY is Fellow and Senior Lecturer, Australian National University, Australia GREG FELKER is Assistant Professor of Politics, Willamette University, USA. SCOTT FRITZEN is an Assistant Professor, National University of Singapore. JULIE GILSON is a Senior Lecturer, University of Birmingham, U. CAROLINE HUGHES is Associate Professor of Governance Studies, Murdoch University, Australia RICHARD STUBBS is Professor of Political Science, McMaster University, Canada

Reviews

'[A]n important book...[which] accomplishes Beeson's goal of exploring the interaction between regional and national contexts...' - Jason S. Enia, Political Studies Review