Violent extremism remains a significant challenge for South-East Asia, but in no country does it pose an existential threat. In Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Thailand, governments have the capacity to prevent it, while at the same time they should understand that it is unlikely to disappear completely. Whether violent extremism spreads, or is minimized, depends largely on how states react to its presence.

The Entry and Exit Points study was commissioned by UNDP in partnership with the European Union. It examines some of the push and pull factors of violent extremism in South-East Asia—with a focus on the role of the state. The research, which took place over 18 months, is the result of a comprehensive literature analysis and 200 in-depth interviews with local and regional experts including practitioners, government, civil society organizations and academics working in the field of countering and preventing violence. This study summarizes four complementary in-depth papers that explore the localized and transnational factors that influence individuals to move towards extremism and violence in South-East Asia, and the responses that are needed to prevent it.