Southeast Asian Affairs, of which there are now twenty-five in the series, is a review of significant developments and trends in the region, with particular emphasis on ASEAN countries. The publication aims primarily at giving the enquiring reader a broad grasp of current regional affairs. Readable and easily understood analyses are made of major political, economic, social, and strategic developments within Southeast Asia.The contributions can be divided into two broad categories. There are those which review and comment upon major developments during 1997 in individual Southeast Asian countries and in the region generally. Then there are the articles of more specialized current interest which deal with topical problems of concern in the individual Southeast Asian countries or the region as a whole. Specialists on Southeast Asian matters, the contributors to this volume represent a broad spectrum of interests including economics, history, political science, international relations, law, demography, and sociology. Although the subject matter is extensive in range, most of the articles in this volume relate in various ways either to the changing circumstances of international politics or to economic developments in the region.This volume contains twenty articles, dealing with such major themes as international conflict and co-operation, political stability, and economic growth and developments.