Peacebuilding in Southeast Asia

Table of Contents

1. Frontmatter

2. Chapter 1. What is the Purpose of “Peacebuilding” in the Age of Diversity?: Strategy from Fragile Nations Through the g7+

   Mitsuru Yamada

   Abstract

   This paper focuses on the purpose and role of the g7+, which is composed of 20 fragile countries, from the view of peacebuilding and statebuilding. Firstly, the UN’s peace activities after the Cold War are summarized in Sect. 1.2. And in 2023, the UNSG proposed the document, A New Agenda for Peace, in response to distrust of the UN, especially the Security Council. And then I introduce “Hybrid Peacebuilding” behind local values in Sect. 1.3. Section 1.4 describes how Xanana Gusmão, who is the founding father of Timor-Leste, promoted the g7+ group of fragile states. Many of these countries have natural resources but the reality is that the income from these resources is not being used for nation-building, or even for the peace and security of people’s lives. The g7+ aims to strengthen governance by building effective relationships with donor countries by sharing the various problems faced by these fragile states.

3. Chapter 2. Building a Civil Society Network to Promote Peace in Southeast Asia: The Case of ANFREL

   Kazumi Abe

   Abstract

   For people who suffer suppression under authoritarian regimes in Asia, free and fair elections represent the key first step to adopting democracy. In such countries, many civil society organizations (CSOs) have devoted themselves to the defense of human rights and the promotion of democracy. In this chapter, I examine the case of the non-governmental organization (NGO) Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), the office for which is located in Bangkok, to clarify the contribution of civil society in promoting democracy. This chapter combines my analysis of ANFREL reports and my 20 years of experience in ANFREL to describe the impact of local CSO cooperation on the national level in Asia.

4. Chapter 3. Dual Dilemmas for the Implementation of Hybrid Peacebuilding: A Case Study of People Living Near the East-West Border on Timor Island

   Masanobu Horie

   Abstract

   After the Cold War, domestic conflicts have increased. To resolve such conflicts, liberal peacebuilding based on values such as human rights and democracy was considered necessary. However, this approach has failed in many places as it did not have considerations of local customs and cultural aspects. And then, hybrid peacebuilding, which include local customs into peacebuilding, was promoted. However, there are problems with hybrid peacebuilding as well. One of them is that peacebuilding sometimes makes divisions clearer as the boundaries of nations states are often not the same as the boundaries of traditions and customs. Furthermore, as peacebuilding includes comprehensive international assistance programs, the development gap between a sector that receives assistance programs and a sector that does not receive may widen, and such gap may lead to future unrest. To prevent future unrest from happening, it seems that the relationship among people living near the borders should be considered in hybrid peacebuilding. Therefore, this research examines what kind of impacts peacebuilding gives to people living near the border between Timor-Leste West Timor, Indonesia as a case study location. And then, the author also tries to analyze the potential to adopt local customs to hybrid peacebuiding across international borders.

5. Chapter 4. Natural Disaster Response, Preparedness, and Peace Building in Southeast Asia: Cooperation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in the Region

   Shigeyuki Sato

   Abstract

   Southeast Asia is one of the regions most vulnerable to natural disasters in the world. Natural disasters originate from external forces acting upon society, but they become disasters as a result of complex interactions with various internal factors within society. Furthermore, disasters are a process, and societies vulnerable to disasters share the common factor of vulnerability to conflict. On the other hand, it is known that the occurrence of natural disasters can provide opportunities for fostering peace between countries, as well as within disaster-affected countries. This chapter focuses on three elements that contribute to peacebuilding through disaster response and preparedness: “the cooperation among the people sharing the same disaster memory and threats”, “the existence of relief and reconstruction funds (from international society, etc.)”, and “the opening up of relief activities to external partners.” Within Southeast Asia, cooperation among Red Cross and Red Crescent societies in the region is a means of achieving these three elements in disaster response and preparedness. Such cooperation among RC/RC in disaster response and preparedness holds the potential to contribute to mutual understanding and peacebuilding by leveraging shared experiences and resources to establish cooperative relationships through the disaster process.

6. Chapter 5. Responsibility to Protect (R2P) in Southeast Asia: 20 Years of Changes and Challenges

   Hiromu Miyashita

   Abstract

   Two decades after its endorsement at the 2005 UN World Summit, the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) remains significant in Southeast Asia, especially considering the 2017 Rohingya refugee crisis and the 2021 military coup in Myanmar. Analyzing the approaches of key actors—states, civil society, and regional organizations in Southeast Asia—reveals that civil society has emerged as the most proactive actor in promoting R2P. Civil society organizations (CSOs) have developed transnational networks and promoted “atrocity prevention” rather than military intervention, which is often perceived as R2P’s core component. Conversely, although many Southeast Asian states have partially accepted R2P, they have not actively promoted its implementation. Similarly, ASEAN has evolved, shifting from non-interference to “non-indifference” in response to the crises in Myanmar, while avoiding direct reference to R2P. While neither Southeast Asian states nor ASEAN have actively promoted R2P, their reactions to related issues suggest a growing recognition of the need for more decisive action.

7. Chapter 6. ASEAN’s Involvement in the UN Peacekeeping Operations

   Miki Honda

   Abstract

   ASEAN is a well-known regional organization of extraordinary diversity, encompassing both democracies and authoritarian states. Interest in and participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations (UNPKO) varies widely among ASEAN members. The purpose of this chapter is to illustrate the multifaceted nature of the Southeast Asian countries’ contributions to UNPKO and to present the specifics of their peacekeeping practices as they emerge from different historical and international contexts. First, this chapter provides an overview of the current state of the UNPKO. Second, it explains why ASEAN countries became interested in UNPKO and contributed their personnel (troops, police, experts on mission, and staff officers). The author attempts to include their historical background, political and economic motives, characteristics of their deployments, and limiting factors. Finally, the author assesses how ASEAN members portray their peacekeeping activities and examines the motivations behind their decisions to seek greater political legitimacy and leadership at both the regional and global levels.

8. Chapter 7. Consolidation of Peace in Asia Without a ‘Peacebuilding’ Slogan: Two Perspectives on Japan’s Support for Peace

   Tomoaki Honda

   Abstract

   Japan has pursued peacebuilding assistance since the post-Cold War era, aiming to expand its diplomatic horizons. Amidst the growing instability of the international order since the 2020s, Japan has been transforming its aid policies, including peacebuilding. In an era of rapidly changing international conditions, how does Japan intend to approach the peacebuilding assistance it has pursued and developed in the Asian region since the end of the Cold War? Moreover, what is the current state of Japan’s peacebuilding support, which has been shaped over the past 30 years? This chapter examines the reality of Japan’s peacebuilding efforts in Asia in the mid-2020s, and then considers future peacebuilding support based on those findings.

9. Chapter 8. The “Lao Way”: A Pathway to Peace and Sustainable Development in Laos

   Tsuyoshi Yamamoto

   Abstract

   This chapter introduces the concept of the “Lao Way” as a framework for understanding peace and sustainable development in Laos. Drawing on field experience from 2021 to 2024, it argues that Laos’s approach is shaped by three interrelated elements: harmony and solidarity, animism and spirit cults, and Theravāda Buddhism. These elements are deeply embedded in daily life and reinforce social cohesion, spiritual balance, and ethical responsibility. The chapter situates the Lao experience within broader regional discourses, including “Asian values” and the “Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Way,” highlighting shared preferences for non-confrontation and consensus. While Laos faces significant structural challenges—fiscal dependency on China, limited institutional capacity, and unexploded ordnance (UXO)—it continues to pursue development within a model rooted in cultural identity and traditional values. The national emblem serves as a symbol of this synthesis, blending Buddhism with ecological consciousness. Recognizing the “Lao Way” is essential for understanding how peace and development are locally conceived and practiced. Rather than imposing external models, international engagement must align with these foundations to ensure legitimacy, resilience, and sustainability. The chapter concludes by offering the “Lao Way” as a provisional analytical tool for future research in Southeast Asia.

10. Chapter 9. “Public Diplomacy” in Indonesia, Malaysia and East Timor

    Tomoya Seki

    Abstract

    The Public Diplomacy Bureau, established within the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is in a position to oversee and implement the public diplomacy policies planned by the government. In this chapter, we will examine the strategic nature and direction of the department by comparing and analyzing the projects it has implemented in the last five years for its neighboring countries of East Timor and Malaysia. In recent years, many technical cooperation programs have been planned with the aim of supporting Indonesia’s politically important goal of East Timor joining ASEAN although very few technical cooperation programs have been carried out for Malaysia. On the other hand, Various cultural projects have been executed with involving Malaysia and the surrounding countries. In this chapter, the author clarified that Indonesia’s public diplomacy has changed its form and direction according to the priorities of regionality, the times, and national interests.

11. Chapter 10. Root Cause Analysis as a Tool for South East Asian Positive Peacebuilding: A Cause Study from Aceh Conflict in Indonesia

    A. M. Rashika Saman Kumari Abesinghe

    Abstract

    Root cause analysis is a methodical approach in identifying and comprehending the associated underlying causes of specific problems and implementing the best possible solutions. Positive peace is anticipated under this approach by preventing structural and cultural transgressions and ensuring a culture of accountability, responsibility, mutual trust, and understanding among the parties involved. This chapter goes into greater detail about how much the identification of the underlying causes is taken into account when working on positive peacebuilding in Aceh, Indonesia, in the aftermath of the conflict. The case of Indonesia due to the associated underlying causes of ethnic and religious identities as well as the incidence of structural and cultural transgressions throughout the conflict phase, Aceh becomes one of the ideal cases for this debate. As a result, this chapter focuses mostly on Aceh’s post-war period and discusses both the positive and negative actions made to bring about positive peace at this time. However, there is anticipated to be an overall discussion about the type of cooperation policy that the Indonesian central government and Acehnese local government should have in order to ensure and preserve the positive peace within Acehnese society.

12. Chapter 11. Influence of Regime of Care and Territoriality on Border Governance in Kachin, Myanmar

    Shiro Mineta

    Abstract

    This study explores how humanitarian assistance and territoriality intersect to form border governance in Kachin State, Myanmar, where protracted conflicts have shaped a complex landscape of overlapping authorities. Multiple actors—the state, ethnic armed organizations, international agencies, and religious networks—mobilize distinct “regimes of care” that reflect divergent norms, rules, and governance logic. Adopting theoretical insights from border studies, the study applies the frameworks of multiscale governance, power arrangements/geometry of power, and discordant multiplicity/disharmony to analyze the fragmented and dynamic nature of territorial control in conflict-affected borderlands. It argues that care provision is not merely a humanitarian act, but a spatial and political practice that reconfigures authority and legitimacy across contested territories. Through case studies of the Myanmar government, Kachin Independence Organization/Kachin Independence Army, and Kachin Baptist Convention, this study illustrates how humanitarian assistance functions as a mechanism of governance, at times reinforcing state sovereignty and empowering non-state alternatives at other times. The interplay between care and control reveals the limitations of state-centric models, highlighting the need for flexible multilayered approaches to border governance. This research offers broader insights into humanitarianism and authority in Southeast Asia and contributes to the theoretical debate on sovereignty, legitimacy, and governance in conflict zones.

13. Chapter 12. Unique Potential of Youth Associated with Non-State Armed Groups (YANSAG): Case in Indonesia and the Philippines

    Yosuke Nagai

    Abstract

    This chapter explores the unique potential of youth associated with non-state armed groups (YANSAG) in the Philippines and Indonesia to become agents of peace. While peacebuilding efforts and the Youth, Peace and Security agenda have gained global traction, YANSAG remain largely excluded, often framed solely as security threats. Drawing on original field research, including semi-structured interviews with former members of the Maute Group in the Philippines and Jamaah Ansharut Daulah and Mujahidin Indonesia Timur in Indonesia, the chapter highlights their motivations, experiences, and post-conflict aspirations. The findings reveal a significant number of YANSAG expressing hope for the future and willingness to contribute to peace, despite facing social stigma, economic hardship, and institutional neglect. The chapter argues for shifting perspectives from threat-based approaches to empowerment-oriented frameworks, and proposes tailored reintegration strategies that align with the sustaining peace agenda. By recognizing YANSAG as an overlooked but vital constituency, this chapter calls for unlocking their potential—not only to rebuild their own lives, but also to heal fractured societies and ignite new pathways toward lasting peace.

14. Chapter 13. The Role of Higher Education in Peacebuilding in Timor-Leste

    Dulce Martins da Silva

    Abstract

    This paper explores the pivotal role of higher education in peacebuilding efforts in Timor-Leste. Following a long history of conflict and subsequent independence, Timor-Leste has been striving to build a stable and peaceful society. Higher education institutions in the country have become crucial actors in this process, fostering a culture of peace, reconciliation, and development. Using qualitative research methods, this study examines how higher education contributes to social cohesion, conflict resolution, and community engagement. The findings highlight both the successes and challenges faced by higher education institutions in Timor-Leste, offering insights into their impact on peacebuilding and providing recommendations for enhancing their effectiveness. The study aims to contribute to the broader discourse on education and peacebuilding in post-conflict societies, offering valuable lessons for similar contexts globally.

15. Chapter 14. Motivational Factors and Interest on the Part of Timorese and Japanese Students in the International Technical Education Exchange Project

    Luis A. Marques

    Abstract

    This article is intended to offer a pragmatic reflection and sightsees on the enlightening trajectory of international education. Subsequently, it requires an understanding of the ideologies and practices of the complete extent of international education to offer a prospect of its impact and approach of specific projections in the present and future. From February 6 to 16, 2023, an International Technical Education Exchange Program with representative students from two technical schools in East Timor took place at the Salesian College of Technology. This program aimed to connect East Timor and Japan in a cooperative approach and develop technology in both countries. To this end, the research that prompted this article focuses on understanding the level of awareness of the Timorese and Japanese participating students, verifying their interest in the project, and determining whether they can communicate their technical skills in a foreign language. With the purpose of ascertaining the subject matter, a questionnaire survey and personal interviews were conducted among the Timorese and Japanese students.