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Peace and Conflict Resolution in Southeast Asia The Southeast Asia is known for its ethical diversity. There are about a thousand different ethical groups with five distinct language groups dominating this area: Mon-Khmer, Malay, Vietnamese, Bama and Thai. Country Laos with population of 4. 5 millions is considered to be one of the most multi-linguistic countries in the world. There are 92 different languages are being commonly used. The region of Southeast Asia is also known for its strong Buddhist traditions.
This religion is rightly considered as the most tolerant and peaceful one. When we look back in history, itll appear that Southeast Asia has been spared of great socio-political stresses, unlike its neighboring regions. Yet, there were some ethical clashes throughout the history. The most prominent of them are between Burmese and Thai, between Thai and Khmer and between Viet and Khmer. But these conflicts never lasted for two long they all were being resolved in the natural way, because there were never third parties involved.
When it comes to ethical clashes, mediating will only do worst, as example of Israel and Palestine shows us. In present time there is still moderate communist regime remaining in Vietnam, but this is only the matter of time before Vietnamese people get rid of it. Thailand and Malaysia are usually referred to as Asian Tigers, because the rapid growth of their economies. Malaysia is considered being a country with biggest national income in Asia, along with Japan.
This is because Malaysian government never did let the international speculative capital to take over its national economy. The biggest ethical problem that countries of Southeast Asia are facing today is large percentage of Chinese immigrants among their populations. Historically, this region always attracted Chinese. From beginning of twentieth century there was a continuous influx of Chinese and Indians to Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines. These people never grew to respect the customs of the counties where they came to live.
Instead they strived to create a community within community, defying its host countries rules and regulations. As time went by, local people began to realize that the economies of their countries are being slowly taken over by Chinese, who showed very little desire to do any physical work, becoming merchants and bankers instead. Over time, Chinese became a fifth column of foreign influence, as they overwhelmingly supported Communist parties in their host countries. Before Malaysia and Indonesia gained independence, there were Communist uprisings in both countries, supported by people of Chinese origin. Only the courage of Indonesians and Malaysians, who continued to pursue with their struggle for independence without Communism, was able to thwart this danger.
Yet, native people of these countries still remember Chinese supporting communism and that is also the reason for mutual mistrust between them, which is still continues to this day. In my opinion, the political prospective of Southeast Asian countries will be defined by the fact that their geographical location automatically places them into sphere of whether Chinese or Japanese national interests. Those countries that accepted the Japanese development model were able to boost their economies and standards of living. While countries like Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are still remaining among the poorest nations of the world. Prosperity and high quality of life are traditionally associated in this region with Japan, while poverty and misery with China. It is became a cliche to suggest that education and policies of tolerance can effectively eliminate ethical tension in countries of Southeast Asia as well as in rest of the world.
Yet, practice shows that such policies are being totally ineffective, especially when enforced by UN troops. In my opinion, people should be left alone to deal with their own problems. People of Southeast Asia have always been known for their peaceful mentality and I have no doubt that they can come up with much better solution to resolve ethical tension in their countries, than any international authority. Bibliography: Harmony and Conflict of Ethnic Groups in Southeast Asia Editorial. Asia Today. 12 April. 2001. 20 November 20, 2004 web Naunidhi, Kaur Ethnicity and Conflicts. Frontline.
January 2003. 20 November 2004 web
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Research essay sample on Peace And Conflict Resolution In Southeast Asia
