In modern times almost all the countries of Southeast Asia have shared the common status of colonial or dependent territories, and during this period the region has been exposed more than ever before to the influences of the outside world, a world that was itself changing rapidly. In the Southeast Asian colonies the European powers, though without a common policy and without co- ordination, have had to attempt to solve common problems of political administration and economic development, and, in recent times, the common problem of emergent nationalism. on its side, in its various forms and stages. has had to seek solutions of the common problem of winning and working self-government. Most of these countries are democratic and share many common interests. Politically these countries have good relations and they have formed a powerful regional group called Association of Southeast Asian Countries or ASEAN, The present encyclopedia traces the history Politics, Economy, Power and some other characteristics of these countries in also traces some of their common goals and their interdependency on each other. Possible threats and future opportunities of these countries have also been discussed in this encyclopaedia.
