Southeast Asia’s Dependent Development

Abstract

As we saw in Chapter 1, considering ‘Southeast Asia’ as a distinct region is a relatively recent development (Emmerson 1984). The fact that it was an external power — the British — that began this practice is emblematic of a wider set of relationships, and the way in which Southeast Asia has been drawn into contemporary international political and economic structures. The manner of this integration will be taken up below and in other chapters, but it is noteworthy that Southeast Asia as a whole has never really shaken off this somewhat dependent, even subordinate position. While there is currently a good deal of excitement about the possibility of Indonesia becoming the next ‘BRIC’ (Brazil, Russia, India and China) economy, if it manages to do so, it will be the exception that proves the rule: hitherto, Indonesia and Southeast Asia more generally have had little influence and standing in the world’s most important forums. Even acting collectively, the influence of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been relatively modest and might actually be undermined by the prominence of Indonesia and the possible unravelling of Southeast Asian solidarity (Ruland 2009).