ABSTRACT
Southeast Asia is one of the world’s most religiously, ethnically and culturally diverse regions. It is also a region where, in response to its diversity, federalism has been offered, debated, implemented or rejected. This chapter explores the impact of ethnicities on federal practice and debate in relation to federalism in Southeast Asia. It outlines the key debates on federalism relevant for Asia such as those on territorial, ethno-, and hybrid federalism. It also explores how Southeast Asian countries deal with ethnicity with a set of institutional designs, including hybrid federal institutions and decentralization. The chapter concludes by identifying future considerations for studies on Asian federalism.
