Volume II Issue 2
Due to its considerable territorial expanse, demographic weight, and growing economic influence, Southeast Asia has emerged as a key actor in global affairs. Politically, Southeast Asia encompasses the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)—Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, and the Philippines—along with the observer Timor-Leste, which achieved independence in 2002. Established in 1967, ASEAN was designed to promote economic development and regional security. Its effectiveness has rendered it a model for other regional organizations across East and South Asia, and it continues to hold significant weight in global diplomacy and economic governance.
Over the past decade, ASEAN has been the world’s third-fastest growing economic bloc, led in large part by the so-called “Tiger Cub Economies”—Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Most Southeast Asian countries are classified as newly industrialized economies, yet their influence in global value chains and economic policymaking is expanding steadily. The region functions as a major global manufacturing center, and beyond foreign direct investment, technological innovation—through mobile internet, big data, the Internet of Things, automation, and cloud-based services—is driving new waves of productivity and integration.
Southeast Asia also occupies a pivotal position in Eurasian integration. While the region is marked by geopolitical competition—particularly the strategic rivalry between China and the United States—ASEAN has consistently pursued a policy of balance, seeking cooperative advantage rather than alignment. China’s economic footprint is particularly strong, with many ASEAN states actively participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). At the same time, these countries maintain pragmatic relations with other major powers, including Russia, the United States, India, and Japan, shaping their foreign policy based not on external expectations but on national interest and regional stability.
This thematic issue of Eurasia Era is devoted to Southeast Asia. The contributions in this volume fall into two broad categories, reflecting the diversity of scholarly approaches to the region’s internal dynamics and its broader geopolitical significance.
We hope that this issue will advance the dissemination of reliable, research-driven knowledge on Southeast Asia, foster academic dialogue, and offer a foundation for informed political and economic decision-making. Any comprehensive understanding of the concept of Eurasia remains incomplete without serious engagement with Southeast Asia’s evolving role.
The complete edition of Eurasia Era Volume II Issue 2 can be downloaded below: