SE Asia is truly a fascinating region of the world with its diverse cultures, languages, religions, and political systems. Modern SE Asia is brimming with potential for becoming a major economic power, at least with the ability to drag its people out of the extreme poverty that has gripped the region for so long.
The cultural variety in the region is a testament to the resilience of the people to maintain their identity despite the efforts of outside powers.
The colonial period is a sad chapter in the history of SE Asia, but one that offers many lessons for those that study the region. The colonial powers had no right to do the things they did in SE Asia and any modern argument that it was for their own good is insulting and glosses over the fact that the European powers systematically exploited the people of SE Asia because they they had the power to do so. Hopefully, modern powers such as the United States will stop meddling in the region.
The aftermath of the anti-colonial movement and the establishment of totalitarian governments should act as a object lesson of what happens in a power vacuum. The region needs stable government that serves the people. They must institute a system that ensures smooth transitions of power and limits or removes the involvement of the military in political affairs.
I hope that SE Asia can heal from the scars of the colonial past and horrible leadership and emerge as an economic powerhouse with a spectacular cultural diversity. All of the pieces are in place, but it is still an uphill battle to overcome their past to enjoy a much more positive future.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Freedom in SE Asia
At times it seems like SE Asia is heading in the right direction with its leadership and freedom. Even Vietnam has made some progress toward capitalism and increased freedom (albeit slight). Then I hear about Thailand and the military coup and instability of the elected government and I have to wonder what is really going on. Can a country where the military can seize control from a legitimate elected government just because they decide that a particular leader is unworthy expect lasting freedom? I would say the answer is a resounding, "no!"
In truly free societies, we have mechanisms that allow for the removal of elected officials. There are impeachment, recalls, and elections. If a leader doesn't do the job, we just vote them out. If a leader is corrupt, they can be impeached or, in some areas, recalled. Our system has its flaws, but it generally assures a peaceful transition of power and the military stays out of it. When the military gets involved, it is a sign of a power vacuum and bad things happen when there are power vacuums. The most despicable, ruthless, and power-hungry dictators-in-waiting thrive in power vacuums and crisis. They take advantage of weaknesses in the system to seize power and then they don't relinquish the power. In a country where the military can seize control whenever they feel like, it is only a matter of time before they don't give it back.
I am concerned that normalized relations between the U.S. and Vietnam will mean that there is more free trade, but no more freedom for the people of Vietnam. Still, free trade and an open economy are strong precursors to overall freedom and is welcome progress.
In truly free societies, we have mechanisms that allow for the removal of elected officials. There are impeachment, recalls, and elections. If a leader doesn't do the job, we just vote them out. If a leader is corrupt, they can be impeached or, in some areas, recalled. Our system has its flaws, but it generally assures a peaceful transition of power and the military stays out of it. When the military gets involved, it is a sign of a power vacuum and bad things happen when there are power vacuums. The most despicable, ruthless, and power-hungry dictators-in-waiting thrive in power vacuums and crisis. They take advantage of weaknesses in the system to seize power and then they don't relinquish the power. In a country where the military can seize control whenever they feel like, it is only a matter of time before they don't give it back.
I am concerned that normalized relations between the U.S. and Vietnam will mean that there is more free trade, but no more freedom for the people of Vietnam. Still, free trade and an open economy are strong precursors to overall freedom and is welcome progress.
The Future of SE Asia
In looking at any region, you have to ask what is best for the people, in general. Once you come up with some answers, you then have to look at what interferes with the people getting what is best for them.
In the past, SE Asian people suffered through tyrants of all variety and then colonial oppression and lack of self-determination. Once they rose up and threw off the bonds of colonialism, they failed to see the enemy within in the form of communist and other authoritarian leaders that committed atrocities, quashed freedom, and instituted policies that benefited themselves, but kept their people in abject poverty.
I think SE Asia needs two things:
First, SE Asia needs for other countries such as the United States, Europe, and China to mind their own business and to stop meddling. The specter of colonial control remains. The United States puts pressure on the region to combat terrorism and drugs at the exclusion of policies that would benefit the people. It is not that combating terrorism is a bad thing, its just that the extreme overreaction and heavy handed policies are not healthy for the region.
Secondly, SE Asia needs leaders that will institute economic policies that will allow the region to emerge from the plague of extreme poverty. They need capitalism free of suffocating bureaucratic regulations. They need leaders who do not treat their country as their own private kingdom. They need to institute policies and create a power structure that prevent brutal dictators from emerging and they need to reign in military control.
Almost all of the nations need to move from an agrarian society to services and manufacturing. They need an educated labor force and for that they need a reliable education system. The governments need to get out of the way of the free market and allow people to start businesses and take advantage of the myriad of economic opportunities around the world.
The region holds much promise. They have they have a large population that could be turned into an asset. They have natural resources and the geographic advantage of sitting between two emerging economic power in India and China. Perhaps this time, SE Asia will get the full benefit of trade with India and China rather than having an unwanted colonial "middleman" take control.
Unfortunately, if SE Asia continues the pattern of bad leadership and fails to change its economic ways, we will be talking about the unfulfilled promise of SE Asia 50 years from now.
In the past, SE Asian people suffered through tyrants of all variety and then colonial oppression and lack of self-determination. Once they rose up and threw off the bonds of colonialism, they failed to see the enemy within in the form of communist and other authoritarian leaders that committed atrocities, quashed freedom, and instituted policies that benefited themselves, but kept their people in abject poverty.
I think SE Asia needs two things:
First, SE Asia needs for other countries such as the United States, Europe, and China to mind their own business and to stop meddling. The specter of colonial control remains. The United States puts pressure on the region to combat terrorism and drugs at the exclusion of policies that would benefit the people. It is not that combating terrorism is a bad thing, its just that the extreme overreaction and heavy handed policies are not healthy for the region.
Secondly, SE Asia needs leaders that will institute economic policies that will allow the region to emerge from the plague of extreme poverty. They need capitalism free of suffocating bureaucratic regulations. They need leaders who do not treat their country as their own private kingdom. They need to institute policies and create a power structure that prevent brutal dictators from emerging and they need to reign in military control.
Almost all of the nations need to move from an agrarian society to services and manufacturing. They need an educated labor force and for that they need a reliable education system. The governments need to get out of the way of the free market and allow people to start businesses and take advantage of the myriad of economic opportunities around the world.
The region holds much promise. They have they have a large population that could be turned into an asset. They have natural resources and the geographic advantage of sitting between two emerging economic power in India and China. Perhaps this time, SE Asia will get the full benefit of trade with India and China rather than having an unwanted colonial "middleman" take control.
Unfortunately, if SE Asia continues the pattern of bad leadership and fails to change its economic ways, we will be talking about the unfulfilled promise of SE Asia 50 years from now.
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