Terrorism in Southeast Asia: a clear and present danger

This chapter argues that despite counter-terrorism successes since 2001, the persistence and resilience of the Southeast Asian radical Islamism is a result of historical antecedents, particularly in Indonesia where they have survived since the 1950s, coupled with the impact of the spread of the Islamic State’s radical pan-Islamist ideology since 2014. This means that the region continues to face a clear and present danger from terrorism. Counter-terrorism in the Malay Archipelago therefore remains a long-term endeavour and a work in progress. This chapter begins with an examination of the evolution of the terrorist threat after 9/11 including the rise of IS, followed by an assessment as to why the problem continues to persist. It concludes with an analysis of what may be done to counter the continuing threat of terrorism.