This study is the result of a decision by Commonwealth Heads of Government at their 1983 Meeting in New Delhi. It was conceived in the framework of the Commonwealth's long-standing concern with the economic problems of its very many small member states. The 'vulnerability' of small states is the essential concept informing the enquiry and it is considered in Previous page.
The regional economic crisis of 1997 greatly affected Southeast Asia, with Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia grappling with economic and currencies. In Indonesia, in particular, the consequences of the crisis have been far-reaching and traumatic. Indeed, the aftermath of the crisis has placed into focus such issues as the impact of globalisation on security, the subject of gover…