ABSTRACT
The 11 September attacks and the onset of the global war on terrorism changed the political landscape in Southeast Asia in fundamental ways. First, threat perceptions changed. Armed extremists and terrorist groups were operating in Southeast Asia before 11 September, but their activities were considered limited in scope. Now these groups are seen as more extensive and linked in varying ways to widespread regional and international networks. There is now a greater understanding in the West and among Southeast Asian governments of the challenges that terrorism and radical Islam pose to regional security, as well as greater political will to confront them.
