“Southeast Asia is a site of intense and ominous contradictions between economic growth and environmental protection, as well as between different social groups with competing interests in the natural resource base. Rapid industrialization has brought both increased consumption of natural resources and increased competition for them. The Politics of Environment in Southeast Asia charts the emergence of the environment as an issue of public debate in the region. Through a series of case studies the authors explore the coalescence of social forces around environmental issues, the process of alliance formation, and the role of state institutions, media and NGOs in the complex political battles over resource allocation. The volatile tensions emerging between the winners and losers in this struggle for the environment will make Southeast Asia a focus of increased attention for those interested in the social, political and economic dynamics of development, as well as for those whose principal interest is in threats to ecology and sustainability. The Politics of Environment in Southeast Asia is essential reading for those wishing to obtain a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding these conflicts.” Reference: The Politics of Environment in Southeast Asia