An introduction to: South East Asia
Asia is a colossal continent located in the western and northern hemisphere, with a part in the south too.
It is the largest and most populous region on Earth, stretching all the way from Turkey to Indonesia!
Consequently, the continent is divided into five regions including: Central Asia, Western Asia, South Asia, South East Asia and East Asia.
Why it is important to learn what constitutes Asia
Very often, Asia/Asian is used as an all-encompassing term which plays into certain ideas and perceptions which excludes many communities.
As there are five different regions (with many, many countries within them) each with their own unique histories, cultures and identities, it is important that we do not see Asia as an ethnic monolith and learn what constitutes each region.
Quick Facts
South East Asia encompasses regions that are geographically south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent and north-west of Australia. They are split into Mainland and Maritime
Mainland includes: Cambodia, Laos, Burma/Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam
Maritime includes: Brunei, East Timor, Indonesia, Philippines, and Singapore
Malaysia is included in both, bringing the total of South East Asian countries to 11
It is also important to note that these countries do not exclusively define South East Asia as there are many ethnic groups and nomadic communities in the region that do not identify with a state
Its total population is more than 655 million, about 8.5% of the world's population
Indonesia is the most populous in the region while Brunei possesses the smallest population
These nationalities are so different, so using the term ‘Asian’ to describe them all risks eradicating their uniqueness, and is seen as erasure by many. Though it may be used by people who are Asian to describe themselves - as is their right - when celebrating cultural crossovers, for example, we should still be mindful of the implications.
Flags of South East Asia (left to right): Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Burma/Myanmar
A Peek into History
South East Asia’s primary cultural influences are a combination of Islam, India and China
Philippines in particular has had diverse influence due to Spanish and American colonial rule, contact with Indian-influenced cultures, and the Chinese and Japanese trading era
Many sea and jungle products are unique to the region, and were therefore highly sought after by international traders in early times
Over 700 languages are spoken in Indonesia, making it second in the leaderboard of countries with the most languages
Islam was gradually introduced as early as the 10th century through Muslim foreign traders. Today, it is now the most practised faith, amounting to 40% of the entire population. Muslims can be found in all mainland countries with the most significant presence in southern Thailand and western Burma, while they are a minority in Singapore and southern Philippines
Flags of South East Asia (left to right): Malaysia, East Timor, Philippines, Singapore
Other Points to Note
Buddhism is the second most practised religion, with approximately 38% of its global followers residing in South East Asia. In Thailand alone, there are over 41,000 Buddhist temples, of which 33,902 are in use
Sri Lanka, Eastern Bangladesh and Northeast India are sometimes considered both South and South East Asian owing to their cultural ties to the region.
Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam are collectively known as the ‘Tiger Cubs’ owing to their rapid economic and population growth
Flags of South East Asia (left to right): Indonesia, Brunei, Laos
To finish off, here’s a reminder: South East Asia is typically Brunei, Burma/Myanmar, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, along with many minority groups that may not identify with such states.
Conclusion: wherever possible, specify which country you mean, or at least the specific geographic region, as they are all very different from each other!
Sources
https://www.niu.edu/clas/cseas/resources/countries.shtml
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Asia
https://asiasociety.org/education/introduction-southeast-asia
https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/south-eastern-asia-population/
https://locus.sh/resources/bulletin/vietnams-economic-growth/
https://www.ethnologue.com/guides/countries-most-languages
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Buddhist_temples_in_Thailand