ABSTRACT
Southeast Asia stands out as somewhat of a puzzle. It is the most diverse region of the Pacific Basin, and perhaps the world. Its 10 countries feature a range of languages, writing systems, religions, colonial legacies, levels of development, and political systems. Much of Southeast Asia's early history has been shaped by its position at the crossroads of two crucial civilizations: India and China. Southeast Asia is sometimes divided into two sub-regions: mainland and maritime. Drawn by the spice markets of eastern Indonesia, Southeast Asia features the longest, most diverse colonial experiences in the world. These diverse colonial experiences led to complex outcomes for independent Southeast Asian countries. The theme of diversity continues in terms of economics. Southeast Asian diversity is especially evident in power and politics. This chapter expresses that Southeast Asia is all about diversity. Indonesia, by far the largest country in the region, embraces this idea, its national motto being "Unity in Diversity".
