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Editor’s Introduction: Given Southeast Asia’s relative neglect in schools and higher education, the authors of this segment provide both a convincing case for Southeast Asia in the classroom and comprehensive teacher/student resources.

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Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, East Timor, Việt Nam, and the Philippines— why is it important for middle, high school, and college students to learn about Southeast Asia? What might interest them about this area sprawling between the Indian and Pacific oceans, between India, China, and Australia?

Young people struggle to learn a wide range of subjects in school and as undergraduates. They often complain that what they learn has little relevance to their lives, yet learning about Southeast Asia can tie into many existing areas of study and link directly to important contemporary and future issues. Some curricular topics relevant to Southeast Asia include:

Geography. Southeast Asia is bracketed by active volcanoes, edged extensively by water (except for landlocked Laos) and geologically layered from sea level to fertile valleys; tiered hillsides of rice, tea, and spice fields; and fog-shrouded mountains. How has this profusion of geographical forms influenced the ways different groups of Southeast Asians have lived, eaten, dressed, and interacted with each other and with the rest of the world?

Climate Change. Many people in Southeast Asia live near or even below sea level. According to the International Panel on Climate Change’s 2014 reports, sea levels around the world are expected to rise as much as three meters in the next fifty to 100 years. Indonesia, the fourth-most populous country in the world, is also the fourth-largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). Part of that comes from drying peat moss—as the rainy seasons become more intense and dry seasons lengthen, the peat that lies underneath most of the tropical rainforest dries out and releases carbon dioxide. And what about Cambodia? Although mostly inland, much of the country lies below sea level. Predictions for destructive climate change impacts are dire for Southeast Asian countries such as Việt Nam and the Philippines. What can be done to reduce the possible impact of climate change and the intensity and ferocity of tropical storms that may affect these countries?

Culture. Students might want to learn about the distinct and varied cultures found throughout Southeast Asia, made up of hundreds of ethnic and linguistic groups—the Moken of Burma or the Bajua of Indonesia, sometimes referred to as sea gypsies; the powerful Khmer empire that built Angkor Wat in Cambodia; overseas Chinese who settled in almost every Southeast Asian country; and the Indian diaspora throughout the area. How have the overlapping cultures affected one another? How do cultural forces and clashes impact nations, governments, and businesses?

Religion. Because of the long history of international trade, people in Southeast Asia have absorbed, shed, and altered many religions over time. In some places, people may profess a particular faith but adhere to more than one belief system. Are there similar situations students can think of in their own lives? What impact do multiple belief systems have when strongly held beliefs clash?

History. What students know of Southeast Asia seems generally bracketed by European colonization and the American Việt Nam War. Yet Southeast Asian history stretches back to the earliest days of Homo sapiens. History has brought traders and visitors from all over the world. How have these interactions affected Southeast Asia? Were the histories of the island nations more affected than those of the mainland countries?

Government. Southeast Asia boasts myriad forms of governance, including Parliamentary Monarchy, Communism, Socialism, Dictatorships, Islamic Law, Military Governments, and several forms of Democracy. How did each of these nations become governed as they now are? How do culture and religion shape governments and politics in the region?

International Politics. The nations of Southeast Asia belong to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN. This year, ASEAN begins the process of regionalization— the creation of an international organization similar to the European Union. How will this union work? What are the biggest challenges? If the regionalization is successful, how does that impact international trade and political power?

Immigration. Immigration is an issue constantly in the news in the US. Southeast Asia struggles with its own problems of legal and illegal immigration. Philippine workers travel throughout the area seeking employment, and their remittances make up a huge part of the country’s income. Cambodian, Burmese, and Laotian workers cross the Thai border seeking higher pay. Thailand has long played a role in sheltering those fleeing war and violence from neighboring countries, sometimes willingly and patiently, and sometimes reluctantly. Immigrants from Eastern Europe and mainland Southeast Asia transit through Indonesia, hoping to reach Australia by sea and sometimes failing. How can countries that may struggle with internal poverty and ethnic tensions manage their Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) provide good support for the countries receiving refugees? Why or why not?

Popular Culture. Southeast Asian young people tweet, text, and Snapchat like their peers everywhere. The growth in smartphone use in Southeast Asia has exploded in the past decade. Fashion magazines, cult movies, YouTube videos, popular music, and dance reflect both the local culture and the international scene. Do you think internationalization of culture is changing attitudes and behaviors in Southeast Asia? Why does this differ from country to country and between different ethnic groups? Try watching some subtitled films, listen to dangdut and K-pop music, and check out Indonesian reggae. Graphic novels portray some of the world’s oldest stories, the Ramayana and Mahabharata. How did these ancient stories survive into modern times, and how have they been adapted from traditional dance and shadow puppetry? What does the “three finger salute” from The Hunger Games and George Orwell’s 1984 have to do with Thai politics?

The Arts. Those interested in the arts can revel in wayang from Indonesia, iconic pipes and other fantastic carvings from Burma and Malaysia, traditional court dances from Thailand, and the beautiful batik textiles and other cloths produced in much of Southeast Asia. Novels of war, love, and remembrance; travel writing; and plays and poetry give glimpses into a life very different from that in the global North. Why do you suppose gamelan has become popular all over the world, with gamelan orchestras throughout Europe? How have Southeast Asian fashion designers used batik and ikat textiles to make a splash in the international fashion scenes?