ABSTRACT
Southeast Asia has achieved much since it emerged from colonialism in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War. Poverty is in decline and people are gaining access to more opportunities, a greater range of social services and higher incomes than ever before. The region is experiencing an extended period of peace at the international scale and some long-running internal conflicts in Aceh and Mindanao have shown positive signs of resolution. However beneath this veneer of success there remain concerns about the uneven impacts of development that appear to be benefiting some countries, communities and households, much more than others. Many people feel disempowered and marginalised by development, particularly if it has deprived them of their access to land, livelihoods, power or independence. For these people, and for the long-term prospects of the region, it is essential that development becomes more diverse and responsive to different interests and concerns and shows greater sensitivities to the particularities of place. This final chapter will provide an overview of regional progress towards these more inclusive and equitable forms of development.
