Within Southeast Asia itself a new and stronger regional identity is emerging. With this in mind, the following arguments can be made in favour of Southeast Asia as a "region First, the concept of region is primarily a heuristic device. It distinguishes particular area from other areas in order to be able to analyse developments that seem to be specific to it. A region can a transnational structure between several countries; and it can also be conceived as a particular of the world. The crucial question seems to be whether the part region possesses sufficient particularity to be able to distinguish it from adjoining areas. Particularity or specificity therefore seems to be more important than homogeneity or heterogeneity.