Political Islam in Southeast Asia

With the uncovering of an extensive terrorist network in Southeast Asia, the region has emerged as a major battleground in the global war on terrorism. Events since September 11, 2001 have dramatically altered the environment in the Muslim world and Southeast Asia in particular. However, some of the trends that are influencing the environment in Southeast Asia have been at work since the 1980s. This analysis examines long- and short-term trends in Southeast Asian Islam, the extent of regional terrorist and radical networks, the impact of the global war on terrorism, and measures that could be taken to strengthen secular institutions and moderate and tolerant tendencies within Southeast Asian Islam. Radical Islamists are a minority in all Southeast Asian countries, but they are increasingly influential. The main obstacle to radical political Islam comes from the mainstream moderate Muslim groups themselves. However, particularly in Indonesia, the government and moderate forces have not fully mobilized this latent source of support to regain control of the political and ideological agenda.