Thailand's own experience in introducing and adopting SEA in
development planning is particularly relevant to a number of middleincome
developing countries, most especially in Southeast Asia
region. Similar to Thailand's case, a number of countries in this region
are middle-income nations, pursuing fast-track economic growth led
by rapid export-oriented industrialization and foreign investments in
the manufacturing sector. Such current model of development has
been proven to be highly resource depleting, and environmentally
and socially costly. Thus, a SEA tool that is effectively and widely
practiced in development planning and projects has become an
imperative. Yet, paradoxically these countries too, just like Thailand,
have serious historical deficits in democratic and participatory
governance and effective public (including legal) institutions that
can manage development towards more socially and environmentally
desirable paths. Certain dominant features of these countries' political
and governance system therefore pose a threat to SEA's breakthrough
and progress. But on the other hand, the introduction of SEA itself, if
properly handled, could provide a good opportunity for significant
governance and institutional reforms in development in the long haul.