The Future of Southeast Asia

     Last Monday night, I had the pleasure of attending a symposium on the past, present, and future of Southeast Asia. The GIP event had two panels that addressed all facets of the future from culture to economic and political policy that was hosted by Terry McCarthy and the Los Angeles World Affairs Council. One of my greatest takeaways from the talk was the sheer number of tourists that travel to Southeast Asia and the ASEAN nations every year. I was struck by the weight of the decisions that Southeast Asia currently faces, and I quickly realized that they are at a crucial juncture; they control the history of tomorrow, and they can decide how they want to proceed. In the first panel, the delegates of Thailand and Indonesia spoke alongside an American businessman on the economic future of Southeast Asia. They talked about foreign investments and infrastructure building as well as the potential for rapid economic growth. To capstone their panel, the Thai delegate presented an interactive Q&A with prizes! In the second panel, Reza Aslan spoke on large cultural shifts in Southeast Asia and then looked to the future. He described the powerful culture of religion in Southeast Asia and explained the dangers of religious conflict, which can lead to persecution of peoples such as the Rohingya. He also touched on the inevitable problems that result from governments sponsoring religions, as they often alienate large swaths of the population and lead to conflicts. Finally, he concluded with a note on the incredible potential of Southeast Asia to evolve as well as the incredible potential to devolve as they move into the future. Overall, I left with more questions than answers, for I think that no one can truly predict what the future holds for the region. I also stepped out of Garland with a feeling of hope, a contagious reaction to the potential for reform and development in Southeast Asia. The region is at a crossroads: it can choose to be great or choose to be gory, garish and generally unwelcoming. The latter is caused by ethnic cleansing campaigns such as the one currently occurring in Myanmar, while the former originates from a strong economic and political foundation for the future. Both are attainable. Which will be chosen?