The evolution of jihadist-Salafism in Indonesia, Malaysia and The Philippines, and its impact on security in Southeast Asia

This paper examines the evolution of jihadist-Salafism, an extreme and violent variant of militant Sunni Islamism, in Indonesia, Malaysia and The Philippines. The paper contends that while these three countries have made great strides against jihadi-Salafists since the September 2001 attacks in the US, the continuing evolution of jihadist-Salafism presents a severe security challenge to the countries themselves, and the wider region including Australia.

The paper argues that Indonesia, Malaysia and The Philippines must build on their successes and do even more to combat jihadist-Salafism, warning that unless this challenge is met in a nuanced and coordinated fashion, the stability of Southeast Asia will be threatened. The paper concludes by noting that ongoing events in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia provide a dire warning of the consequences of under-estimating the threat.

This paper was also published in the Indo-Pacific Strategic Digest series.

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