Despite the diversity of national political systems, polities and
societies across the region, it is safe to say that Southeast Asian
policy-makers in general share a broad commitment to maximizing
national growth and employment as a means to secure and legitimize
their rule domestically. However, they are also constrained by having
to meet other politically salient priorities in their respective states
ranging from domestic distributive and social equity agendas and
nationalist/developmental goals, to strategic/security considerations