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Chapter 7: Terrorism, Transition, Economic Growth, and Instability in Southeast Asia
- Northeastern University Press
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chapter 7 Terrorism, Transition, Economic Growth, and Instability in Southeast Asia S outheast Asian states can best be described as states in transition . There is considerable economic transition from developing to developed. Once thought of as “Third World” states, most Southeast Asian nations boast strong or growing economies and rapidly advanced and diversified industries. Singapore, for example, has become the telecommunications hub for not only Southeast Asia but arguably China as well. Politically, Southeast Asian nations are either transitioning to some form of democratic governance or have transitioned into a stable, semidemocratic form. Most notably, Malaysia and Singapore have the longest, most stable record of semidemocratic governance, while the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia all boast greater democratic freedom, but the fledgling nature of their democratic development produces instability in each of these states. It is not surprising then that terrorism and insurgency are more common in the less-stable polities and economies. Layered on top of the instability are global terrorist forces that have infiltrated the region. One author estimated that the base of international terrorism has shifted from the former Soviet Union and the Middle East to Asia and Africa (Qadir, 2001: 304). More specific to Southeast Asia, it is estimated that one-fifth of Al-Qaeda’s organizational strength had shifted to Asia by 2002 (Gunaratna , 2002). As discussed later, Al-Qaeda is one of the chief catalysts of Islamic fundamental terrorism in the region but it does not explain all, or perhaps even a majority, of the present terrorism. We are not trying to leave the impression that Southeast Asia is riddled with terrorism and terrorist threats. In fact, in Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand there is little to no terrorism. But where it occurs regularly, in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand, it seems to be a devastating and destabilizing force. 88 There is a vein of Muslim extremism that is associated with all of the terror campaigns in Southeast Asia. Arabinda Acharya notes that the substantial proliferation of fundamentalist “jihadi websites in recent months” is an indication of a growing Islamic radicalization in Southeast Asia (2006: 307). Recent polls seem to also support the assertion that Islamic fundamentalism is on the rise. For example, Osama Bin Laden received a very favorable rating by the majority of Indonesian respondents in 2002 (Gentzkow and Shapiro, 2004: 117). Further, almost 80 percent of Indonesians surveyed did not believe that Arabs committed the attacks of 11 September 2001 (Gentzkow and Shapiro, 2004: 120). A more recent poll by the Pew Research Center showed continuing unfavorable views of the United States in both Indonesia and Malaysia. Sixty-six percent of the Indonesians surveyed in this poll, and 69 percent of Malaysian respondents, had an unfavorable view of the United States in 2007 (Pew Global Attitudes Project, 2007). But other observers correctly note that Islamic fundamentalism is not the only driving factor behind terrorism in Southeast Asia. Osman Bakar believes that Muslim extremist groups are motivated by a combination of insurgency or separatist motives and a desire to remove American or Western influences. However, he believes the latter are the primary motivations for terrorist groups (2005: 110). Maria Ressa contends that Islamic terrorism is, in large part, an attempt at insurgency in Southeast Asia. She argues that such committed terrorists are best fought through superior ideology rather than military tactics (2003). Zachary Abuza offers some interesting insights toward explaining why Southeast Asia is such a fertile ground for terrorists. Abuza notes that while Southeast Asian societies and governments tend to be secular and tolerant, radical Islam is growing due to an increase in poverty, a failure of secular education to deliver to fundamental Islamic minorities, the spread of Wahabbism and Salafi Islam, and the emphasis on tourism in many Southeast Asian nations, which creates ease of movement for terrorists (2002: 428). Whether it is democracy, economics, insurgency, or fundamental Islam driving terrorism is examined in this chapter. The rest of this chapter is divided into: an examination of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand as examples of nations facing serious terrorist threats; Malaysia and Singapore as examples of nations that have, thus far, successfully dealt with serious terrorist threats; an examination of the global nature of terrorism in Southeast Asia; and an examination of the impact of democracy, economics, culture, and instability on terrorism in the region. Terrorism, Transition, Economic Growth, Instability 89 [54.242.96.240] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 11:14 GMT) The Indonesian Experience with Terrorism...