This up-to-date textbook has been specially written for university students taking courses dealing with the politics and society of the South East Asian region. It covers Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Each chapter begins with a description of the country's history, society, geography and economy. The politics sections cover the formal organization of government and the major political institutions -- parliament, the executive, the civllian and military bureaucracies, the judiciary and, more widely, ideology, civil society, political parties, elections, civil society and human rights. Finally, each chapter looks at major political issues -- focussing on who rules, who benefits, legitimacy, and the nature of governance generally.