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The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand
Volume XII, 2020

with the realities at the regional level. Here I present seven propositions on
how climate change will interact with inequality and politics in Southeast
Asia.

1. The impact of climate change will be shaped by politics and be
highly uneven

The politics of the countries of Southeast Asia share several features to
a greater or lesser degree:

Starkly unequal distributions of wealth and incomes.

Vestiges of old ideologies of dominance and privilege.
Limited space for development of ideas of democracy, equity, and human

rights.
Oligarchic structures of power.

Weak legal systems.

Tendency towards authoritarianism in politics.

Those with financial and political power will use this power to defend
themselves from the effects of climate change. Hence, the impact will be highly
uneven, and will undoubtedly reinforce existing inequalities.

2. The development strategy based on over-exploitation of natural
resources will be hard to change

Southeast Asia is enormously blessed with natural resources. The region’s
economy has long been based on exploitation of this base. In the last century,
exploitation has shifted to over-exploitation. This strategy is so ingrained that it
will be hard to shift.

3. Climate change will intensify existing stresses

The countries of the region already suffer from the over-exploitation of
natural resources; growing shortage of water; deterioration of the rivers and seas;
uncontrolled deforestation; rising inequalities; and chaotic urbanization.
Climate change is already worsening these trends in ways that mostly cannot be
isolated and identified as the result of climate change. And this will continue.

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