Geoculture and Its Social Construction

Geocultural factors play a significant role in the construction of international geopolitics, geo-economy (e.g., regional integration), and interstate relations. The spiritual values and shared ideas based on religion can transcend national boundaries and play a role in constructing geocultural and interstate relations. Geoculture, geopolitics and geoeconomics are considered three battlefields that are influencing the order of global politics, economy, and culture, as well as the configuration of the world system. Religion and ethnicity form what might be called the "cultural double helix" of a geocultural entity, shaping cultures and international systems in ways that transcend time and national borders. Understanding this dynamics is critically important to efforts to meet new challenges and seize on new opportunities. This volume applies this analytical framework to Southeast Asia and neighboring regions.