This book is the end product of a project on bilateralism and multilateralism in Southeast Asia. The contributions to this edited volume have been developed through a process involving presentations of papers at two international workshops held in Hiroshima and Kuala Lumpur in December 2007 and October 2008, respectively.

The contributors to this book have strictly adhered to an agreed timetable to deliver their individual contributions to this book. In so doing they have integrated feedback from the editors, from discussants at the two workshops and from other participants in the workshops. Finally, the entire manuscript benefitted from the feedback of three anonymous referees who reviewed it for ISEAS.

The project was generously funded by the Hiroshima Peace Institute (HPI) through the Hiroshima City Government, which also hosted the first workshop. Additional financial support to the two Workshops has been provided by the Asian Political and International Studies Association (APISA), Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS). APISA hosted the second workshop in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

We acknowledge the supportive role of Associate Professor Hari Singh, the Executive Secretary of APISA for economic support, hosting, and his contribution as participant in the two workshops. We also acknowledge the supportive role of Dr Colin Duerkop of KAS for financial support and participation in the first workshop.

We would like to acknowledge the important contribution made by the discussants at the two workshops: Professor Patricio Abinales and Professor Omar Farouk at the Hiroshima workshop and Professor Johan Saravanamuttu and Dr Lam Peng Er at the Kuala Lumpur workshop.

Last but not least we would like to express our appreciation for the efforts and role played by Yukiko Yoshihara from the HPI throughout the project and in particular in connection with the first workshop. We also express our appreciation to Patricia Marin for her key role in the organization of the second workshop in Kuala Lumpur.