Addressing International Terrorism in Southeast Asia: A Matter of Strategic or Functional Approach?

This article traces the evolution of the American-led global campaign against international terrorism in Southeast Asia. During the initial stage of the campaign, the United States was pragmatic and circumspect as it cooperated with its Asian allies in neutralizing terrorist groups and other transnational criminals. The campaign generated a positive trend towards cooperative security as Washington provided military and intelligence assistance to several countries threatened by homegrown and international terrorist movements. However, this paper contends that the Bush administration's 2002 national security strategy has radically transformed the war on terror in Southeast Asia and might create a major problem in America's efforts to foster cooperative security since states in the region seem averse to the strategy of pre-emptive defence. The article concludes that the best way to counter terrorist organizations is through the cooperative security or functionalist approach rather than the strategic/military mode, which tends to generate conflict among state actors who are faced with a common security challenge — international terrorism.