The History of Well-Being in Southeast Asia

Western colonial control established in Southeast Asia the conditions for improving societal well-being by organizing the modern state, moderating internal conflicts, developing the economy, promoting health, and enriching cultural diversity. But it also introduced policies and structures, imposed by force primarily for the benefit of the colonial power, that created communal and political divisions adverse to well-being. World War II, the often violent processes of decolonization, and the Cold War exacerbated these divisions. Internal and external security concerns have remained a continuing problem that compromise progress in well-being and underline the need for accountable governance as the critical factor for its achievement.