ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by outlining the regional, social, political, and governance diversity of South and Southeast nations. It then highlights the diversity within the nations and points out how South and Southeast Asian nations and societies are increasingly affected by the risks of climate change and disasters in recent decades. Following this, it examines the premise that vulnerability and adaptation responses to climate change have been shaped not just by geographical and economic factors, but also by sociopolitical forces and regional contexts. By highlighting the knowledge gaps, it outlines the scope of this book and discusses the need to have a better understanding of the sociopolitical forces and factors that shape climate change vulnerability and adaptation responses in South and Southeast Asia. It concludes by summarizing all the chapters of this book and explains how the chapters of this book address the knowledge gaps and how they will be of interest to the wide cross sections of academics, practitioners, and policymakers.
