10.5 Geographic Insights: Southeast Asia Review and Self-Test

• 1. Climate Change, Food, and Water: Conversion of forests to oil palm plantations, rice farms, subsistence plots, and settlements all add to greenhouse gas emissions, which intensify climate change and leave many people vulnerable to both flooding and occasional droughts.

  • Question

    How does deforestation lead to more greenhouse gas emissions?

  • Question

    How is food production for global markets related to deforestation?

  • Question

    How is deforestation related to increased risks of floods and droughts?
• 2. Globalization and Development: Globalization has brought spectacular economic successes and occasional, dramatic economic declines. Urban incomes soar during periods of growth, but the poor are vulnerable during periods of global economic decline.

  • Question

    How is globalization linked to the economic success of Southeast Asia?

  • Question

    How is globalization linked to rapid urbanization and the growth of slums in this region?

  • Question

    Why have global recessions caused such dramatic economic declines for the many workers in Southeast Asia?
• 3. Power and Politics: Militarism, corruption, and favoritism are recurring issues in Southeast Asia. Although modernization and prosperity have brought significant increases in democratic participation, there have also been reversals, especially during periods of economic downturn. These sometimes result in violence, often against ethnic minorities.

  • Question

    What is the political history backdrop to the current dynamics of political power in Southeast Asia?

  • Question

    How have modernization and prosperity helped to improve democratic participation in this region?

  • Question

    What are some of the explanations for the violence against ethnic or religious minorities that tend to occur during hard economic times?

  • Question

    What strategies have governments used to alleviate the ethnic tensions?

  • Question

    What are the signs that ordinary citizens are trying to increase democratic participation?
• 4. Population and Gender: Economic change has brought better job opportunities and increased status for women, who are then choosing to have fewer children. The improving roles and status of women have increased awareness that sex trafficking is an abuse of human rights.

  • Question

    Describe the circumstances that have led to better job opportunities for women.

  • Question

    How are the improving roles and status of women changing attitudes toward female sex work?
• 5. Urbanization, Food, and Development: The development of export-oriented modernized agriculture and agribusiness have forced farmers who were once able to produce enough food for their families to migrate to cities, where jobs that fit their skills are scarce, where they must purchase their food, and where the only affordable housing is in slums that lack essential services. Surplus skilled and semiskilled workers, especially women, often migrate abroad for employment.

  • Question

    How have development strategies, such as mechanized agriculture and agribusiness, changed the degree of food self-sufficiency in this region?

  • Question

    How are development and urbanization linked to the decision of many to migrate abroad for employment?