The end of the Cold War undoubtedly provided new vistas for Southeast Asia's development and intra-regional cooperation. However, the Asian financial crisis of 1997–98 churned up a sea change that continues to reverberate in the politics of many Southeast Asian countries. These countries had been impressive in their economic growth, and its unravelling was all the more dramatic.

In Indonesia, it spelled the end of the long Soeharto era. Following a series of short-term presidencies, the country has since then managed to put into place not only an effective decentralization process, but also a succession of popularly elected presidents. After two terms with Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the country welcomed Joko Widodo in late 2014. Despite coming from outside the old elite structure, Widodo experienced a meteoric rise but now finds himself in no easy position, having to live up to the expectations of his supporters while navigating the corridors of traditional power.

In Malaysia, the financial crisis precipitated the grave fallout between Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and his deputy, Anwar Ibrahim. The latter's decision to fight his old mentor released a new political force that within ten years led to the formation of a strong opposition coalition, whose gains in the general elections of 2008 established a two-party system in Malaysia.

Further north, in Thailand, the new millennium saw Thaksin Shinawatra bring-ing the voting power of the rural northeast and north to bear on the country's politics. He changed the dynamics of electoral politics and polarized the country to such an extent that two military coups were carried out against him and his followers. The first, in 2006, ended his six years as prime minister, and the second, in 2014, toppled his sister Yingluck Shinawatra as prime minister.

Vietnam's political situation remains ambiguous despite its sustained economic progress. At the same time, reforms in Myanmar are allowing democratic elections to be held, but the challenges are diverse and numerous — inter-ethnic strife not being the least of them. The Philippines is often considered an outlier in that much of its economic and political dynamics do not seem to affect the rest of the region to a significant extent. This makes it of special interest, in adding to the diversity of the region, and making it a case worth studying, for comparative reasons especially.