Post-ISIS Terrorism in Southeast Asia: Regional Insecurity and Islamophobia Promotion and Implications for Migration

The Southeast Asian (SEA) region has been grappling with terrorism for almost three decades. Nevertheless, recent global developments in terrorism have heightened interest and attention in monitoring and tracking terrorist threats in the region. Following the defeat of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in its heartland in 2017, analysts debated the potential security implications for Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Singapore. While some argued that the ISIS threat should not be exaggerated as it does not pose a serious or critical threat to the security of Southeast Asia, this chapter critically analyzes the regional security landscape in the post-ISIS era. It also examines the impact of these developments on the rise of Islamophobia in the region. Using a qualitative research approach, the chapter draws on various literature and documents related to the impact of ISIS and the links to Southeast Asia. In response to this non-traditional security threat, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its member states have implemented initiatives, programs, policies, and strategies. In particular, the 2018 Southeast Asia “Counter-Terrorism Symposium” and the “Our Eyes” initiative, which was launched in the same year, strive for a collective approach to counter-terrorism in the region.