This (final exam) is part of the requirement for Southeast Asian Studies, a course I took at Mahidol University International College. There are five different responses, which all discuss social issues related to Southeast Asia.

1. 1. Regional projects such as dam construction raise new questions of shared
responsibility. With the case of Xayaburi Dam in Laos, among others,
what responsibility should the Thai government hold as the electric
buyer? What responsibility should the private sector hold as the project
developer and financier? How should the civil society play its part?
As the electric buyer, the Thai government should first, have enough money to
provide to the private sector that is responsible in the construction of the Xayaburi
Dam in Laos. Since the construction of the Xayaburi Dam costs approximately 3.5
billion US dollars, the Thai government should invest wisely and accordingly for the
construction of the Xayaburi Dam. As the project developer and financier, the private
sector should be responsible in handling the money given by the Thai government for
the construction. The private sector should also ensure that fish-passage technology is
implemented and that villagers living around the area are evacuated safely. Like the
Thai government and the private sector, the civil society should also play a part in the
construction of the Xayaburi Dam. The civil society should be aware that the
construction of the Xayaburi Dam will lead to floods in the area. The civil society will
have to evacuate elsewhere.
2. Urbanization has taken different paths in Southeast Asian countries. Compare
and contrast the major similarities or differences you see with how cities
are planned, developed, and maintained in any Southeast Asian country
and your home country. How are they similar or different to one another?
Describe and explain how the impacts of urbanization can be lessenedfor
any developing country in the region of Southeast Asia.
Both Bangkok, Thailand and Jakarta, Indonesia use suburbanization as a way
of planning the city, meaning residential areas are shifted outwards. In Bangkok,
residential areas are shifted outwards, away from the center district, like Sukhumvit
area. In Sukhumvit area, you will mostly find apartments scattered around, and not in
one designated area. In Jakarta, residential areas are shifted outwards as well. While
there are some residential areas within the city, most residential areas are located half

2. an hour to one hour away from Jakarta’s center district, Jakarta Pusat (Central
Jakarta). Also, both Bangkok and Jakarta develop similarly. Both Bangkok and
Jakarta experience counter-urbanization, meaning that rural areas are becoming part
of urban areas. Besides the similarities, Bangkok and Jakarta are different in terms of
urban maintenance. Bangkok’s urban maintenance is good. In Bangkok, the roads are
connected, allowing easy access to different parts of the city. Unlike Bangkok,
Jakarta’s urban maintenance is poor. In Jakarta, the roads are generally connected
poorly, making access to different parts of the city more complicated.
For any developing country in the region of Southeast Asia, the impacts of
urbanization can be lessened. For any developing country in the region of Southeast
Asia, there needs to be more decentralization and better urban planning. More
decentralization can be achieved by sharing the role between the government and
people equally in the decision making process. Better urban planning can be achieved
by recognizing the role of all citizens, including the poor in the development of the
city. Also, better urban planning can be achieved by sharing the benefits in economic
growth and development with all citizens, including the poor.
3. The Philippines’ number one export is people. It is estimated that 11 million
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are working worldwide and sending
remittances back home. If you were the Government of the Philippines,
what national policy would you implement to welcome the OFWs back to
work and/or live in the Philippines? Please describe your proposed policy
by discussing the ‘purpose of the policy (main agenda)’, ‘how it will be
implemented’ and ‘the expectedoutcomes’. How will your proposed
policy be beneficial to the country as a whole?
If I was part of the government of the Philippines, I would propose a policy,
where Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are given a specific amount of time to
work abroad. The purpose of this policy is to welcome the OFWs back to work and/or

3. live in the Philippines. The implementation of this policy, would include contracts
that must be signed by Filipinos who are willing to become OFWs and work abroad.
The contracts will state the specific amount of time for working abroad. The amount
of time, will solely depend on the worker’s socio-economic status and other factors
such as the worker’s purpose for becoming an OFW. The implementation of this
policy, will hopefully lessen the amount of OFWs working abroad, while still
receiving enough remittances. This proposed policy will hopefully make Filipinos
aware that it is not necessary to work abroad.
4. Development and industrialization comes with a cost. Be it social, cultural,
political, or environmental. In your perspective, is it justifiable (reasonable)
to have an improved economy but worse quality of life? What lessons
could Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia learn from neighboring country
Thailand in their respective paths to development?
In my opinion, I believe that it is unjustifiable to have an improved economy
but worse quality of life. An improved economy leads to many problems, including
social, cultural, political, and environmental problems. In terms of social problems,
many people from different Southeast Asian countries are still living in poor
conditions, as a result of the gap between the rich and poor. In terms of political
problems, an improved economy can lead to corruption. For example, in Thailand,
political leaders such as Thaksin Shinawatra became corrupted, as a result of an
improved economy. In terms of environmental problems, people around Southeast
Asia are threatened with diseases, For example, in Thailand, the citizens of Rayong
province are threatened with cancer and respiratory disease. Perhaps, such diseases
are a result of sea-water contamination and hazardous wastes caused by industries and
companies within the area. In terms of cultural problems, an improved economy can
lead to the loss in culture. For example, in Indonesia, the creation of palm oil

4. plantations, leads to the loss in culture for Indonesian inhabitants. These inhabitants,
are forced to leave their homes, eventually forgetting their language and customs.
Perhaps Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia can learn from Thailand in their
respective paths to development. These countries should learn from Thailand that
development and industrialization comes with a cost, whether social, cultural,
political, or environmental. In Thailand, political leaders become corrupt, many
citizens are still living in poor conditions, and that many citizens are threatened with
diseases. These countries should understand that these outcomes are a result of
development and industrialization.
A one-party dominant systemis perhaps the key to success for Southeast
Asian countries. Do you agree? Argue and discuss.
In present day Southeast Asia, different countries in the region adopt different forms of
government. Indonesia and Singapore adopt a constitutional republic form of government, where
affairs of the government are a “public matter.” Thailand, on the other hand, adopts a
constitutional monarchy form of government, where the monarch acts as the head of the state for
the country. These examples of different forms of government play a major role in the future of
these Southeast Asian countries. Although most Southeast Asian countries adopt similar forms of
government, Vietnam on the other hand, adopts a communist form of government, a one-party
dominant system where the government is ruled by a single party known as the communist party.
In my opinion, I believe that a one-party dominant system such as the one in Vietnam is perhaps,
not a key to success for Southeast Asian countries. I believe that a one-party dominant system,
like in Vietnam, leads to political, economic, and social problems.

5. Firstly, I believe that a one-party dominant system leads to political problems, including
corruption and lack of decentralization. In the past recent years, Vietnam has suffered from an
increase in corruption. According to a survey from Transparency International, more than 60%
of the Vietnamese felt that corruption increased from 2007 to 2010 (Fuller, 2013). The survey
from Transparency International also states that Vietnam ranks in 123rd from a list 176 countries
in least corruption (Fuller, 2013). Thailand and Indonesia on the other hand, rank in 102nd and
114th from the list of 176 countries. This means that Vietnam is seen as a more corrupted
country, compared to other countries in Southeast Asia, such as Thailand and Indonesia. Perhaps,
other Southeast Asian countries would face as much corruption as Vietnam, if other Southeast
Asian countries adopted a one-party dominant system. Also in Vietnam, there is a lack of
decentralization. In Vietnam, the communist government limits decisions to only the leaders in
the communist government through strict control of the media. According to the Human Rights
Watch, the communist government controls the media, including radio and TV stations, and
publications. This prevents the Vietnamese citizens from having any contact with the communist
government, with regards to the decision making process. In my opinion, I believe that citizens
should be included in the decision making process. Other Southeast Asian countries, would be
more corrupted and experience less decentralization, if other Southeast Asian countries adopted a
one-party dominant system.
Secondly, I believe that a one-party dominant system leads to economic problems,
including a period of economic crisis and struggles for economic reform. In the past decade,
Vietnam’s communist government has dealt with a period of economic crisis and struggles for
economic reforms. During Vietnam’s period of economic crisis, Vietnam’s overall economic
growth has slowed down by 4- 5%, every year (Ebbighausen, 2012). Different economic sectors
in Vietnam were badly affected by the crisis. Vietnam’s real estate prices have fallen by 30%
(Ebbighausen, 2012). Vietnam’s inflation rate rose to above 20% from 2009 to 2012. Also,

6. Vietnam’s exports have decreased by 14% in 2009 (Braddock, 2009). There is no surprise that
Vietnam suffered a period of economic crisis. Even leaders from Vietnam’s communist party
admit that Vietnam’s communist government played a negative role in Vietnam’s period of
economic crisis. According to an article taken from The Economist called, “Hero to zero,”
Vietnam’s communist government stated that their state- owned enterprises (SOEs) “weighed
down” the economy (“Hero to Zero”, 2012). Despite the economic crisis that occurred in
Vietnam, Vietnam’s communist government has yet, struggled for economic reforms. The article
also states that Vietnam’s communist government failed to implement reforms for the past 20
years, even after reforms were planned. In my opinion, I believe that this would be frustrating for
any Southeast Asian country. In general, I believe that other Southeast Asian countries would
face an economic crisis and reform struggles, if other Southeast Asian countries adopted a one-
party dominant system.
Lastly, I believe that a one-party dominant system can lead to social problems, including
freedom of speech violation and persecution. In Vietnam, the communist government violates
freedom of speech, especially in the internet. According to an article taken from CNSNews.com
called, “Vietnam’s Communist Leaders Try to Rein in Social Media”, the article states that more
than 30 million Vietnamese are at risk of punishment, if news articles were shared via social
media (Goodenough, 2013). The article also states that any posted news article via the internet
that offends Vietnam’s communist government or that threatens Vietnam’s national security will
be taken down (Goodenough, 2013). In my opinion, I believe anyone deserves to speak freely his
or her opinions, especially via the internet. Compared to Vietnam, there is barely any freedom of
speech violation in most other Southeast Asian countries. Besides freedom of speech violation, a
one-party dominant system can lead to persecution. In Vietnam, the communist government
persecutes those who speak against the communist government. According to an article taken
from the BBC News called, “Vietnam dissident Le Quoc Quan jailed over tax evasion” the article

7. states that those who speak against the communist government will have to pay fines and/or be
sentenced in jail, depending on the case (“Vietnam dissident”, 2013). In my opinion, I believe
anyone should not be persecuted for speaking against the government, especially when the
government is part of the problem. Other Southeast Asian countries would also face similar
problems, if other Southeast Asian countries adopted a one-party dominant system.
I believe that a one-party dominant system would not be a key to success for Southeast
Asian countries. By taking a look at Vietnam, we learn that a one-party dominant system, brings
many problems, whether political, economic, or social problems. A one-party dominant system
can lead to political problems, such as corruption. A one-party dominant system can also lead to
economic problems, such as an economic crisis and reform struggles. Lastly, a one-party
dominant system can lead to social problems, such as freedom of speech violation and
persecution. I believe that a one-party dominant system would be disastrous for Southeast Asia
as a whole. This would only happen, if all other Southeast Asian countries, besides Vietnam,
adopted a one-party dominant system as a form of government.
References
Braddock, J. (2009). Vietnamese economy hit by global crisis. World Socialist Website.
Retrieved from http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2009/10/viet-o12.html
Ebbighausen, R. (2012). Vietnam's dangerous economic downturn. DW.com. Retrieved from
http://www.dw.de/vietnams-dangerous-economic-downturn/a-16406306
Fuller, T. (2013). In hard times, open dissent and repression rise in Vietnam. The New York
Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/24/world/asia/vietnam-clings-
to-single-party-rule-as-dissent-rises-sharply.html

8. Goodenough, P. (2013). Vietnam’s Communist Leaders Try to Rein in Social Media.
CNSNews.com. Retrieved from http://cnsnews.com/news/article/vietnam-s-communist-
leaders-try-rein-social-media
“Here to zero” (2012). The Economist. Retrieved from http://www.economist.com/node/
21551538?zid=309&ah=80dcf288b8561b012f603b9fd9577f0e
“Vietnam dissident Le Quoc Quan jailed over tax evasion” (2013). The BBC News. Retrieved
from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24361701