Youth and Civic Engagement in Southeast Asia

Youths in Southeast Asia have been active in making their voices heard in politics and in society, both online and offline. However, comparative studies on their civic engagement across the region remain wanting. This pilot study, conducted by the Regional Social and Cultural Studies Programme (RSCS) at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, gathers insights from educated youths across selected Southeast Asian countries. Between August and October 2024, the team surveyed undergraduates from six Southeast Asian countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The survey drew responses from 3,081 participants, attaining a generally balanced representation of female and male respondents, and of students from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and non-STEM majors. Respondents were evenly spread across the ages of 18 and 24. This paper highlights some key findings from the survey, focusing on four broad themes: (1) the issues that concern youths the most; (2) their levels of religiosity and political engagement; (3) their optimism towards the political system, law enforcement and economic outlook; and (4) their online and offline participation.