While Cambodia and Thailand have remained largely Buddhist with religious elements incorporated into governance as well as daily life, other countries like Indonesia and Malaysia are today majority Muslim nations. In fact, Indonesia is the biggest Muslim country in the world. But Hindu and Buddhist elements remain, in the form of culture, language and values.

The form of Islam practiced in the Muslim countries of southeast Asia is a moderate form of the religion, preaching tolerance to other religions and understanding between different peoples. This formula of peaceful coexistence has served the region well. While ethnic clashes have occurred in small scale  on occasion, such as in Malaysia in 1969 and in Indonesia as recently as 1999, large scale clashes like Rwanda or Yugoslavia have been successfully prevented in southeast Asia.

But this history of tolerance is at risk from extremist elements within the region. Radicals in the Muslim faith have taken root and are gaining strength. Taking cue from the ideology of terrorists in the Middle East, Afghanistan and elsewhere, religious fundamentalists have attempted to create new social orders in the region.

Largely rejected by the modern, mainstream Muslims, radicals nevertheless pose a great threat to the stability of the region and security of Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and other indigenous peoples. Groups like Jemaah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf have brought the problem to the fore. And while their targets so far has been largely western interests in the region, their growth will be a risk for nation building and religious tolerance within the region.

The continued prosperity and coexistence within southeast Asia depends on moderates rejecting extremism.