An Integrated, Yet Fragmented Region  

Indeed, most peoples of the GMS are not aware of the regional plans affecting their lives.  Caught in the specificity of their local contexts, they do not subscribe to the concept of "the Mekong" as a region, remaining divided along socio-economic means and ethnic and national-identity lines.  

And, when they do look beyond their borders, as global citizens they are often more interested in what is happening in the United States, Japan and Europe than what is going on in their vicinity.  Public knowledge about other Mekong countries remains scant and fraught with stereotypes and biases.  

Misunderstandings and prejudices toward neighbors are grounded in biased readings of history.  Interviewed by Johanna Son of Inter Press Service Asia-Pacific, the Thai historian and South-east Asia specialist Charnvit Kasetsiri explained that in historical textbooks, Thai children learned many contentious and not always accurate notions concerning other Mekong countries.  Referring to the poorly substantiated, yet popular, historical record that the Thai King Naresuan killed the king of Cambodia out of revenge back in 1593, he commented:  "The memory easily pops up in many Thais' minds when talking about relations between two.  How can we deal with our neighbors peacefully and respectfully and still hold on to such perceptions?"

Persistent tensions also derive from more recent history, such as the Cold War and its aftermath.  To this day, Vietnam's historical role in Cambodia is perceived with mixed feelings by part of the Cambodian population who consider the "liberation" from the Khmer Rouge by the Vietnamese Army as abusive "occupation".  

Distrust derived from past animosities is compounded by the contemporary resentment provoked by the perceived inequity in the way benefits and costs of regional economic growth are distributed among countries and groups.  The control of the Mekong's waters by upstream countries, the skewed use of natural resources, the intrusive expansion of China, the growing gap between wealthier and poorer countries and groups, and the cultural and political domination by more powerful nations and majority groups at the expenses of weaker nations and minority groups are all trends that divide, rather than unite, the GMS peoples.  

No wonder, then, that anti-foreign feelings can be exploited relatively easily by politicians and the media to stir up nationalist passions for domestic purposes.  The riots that exploded in Cambodia in January 2003 against Thai business interests are one poignant example of how fragile the proclaimed regional unity in the Mekong is.  On this, as on other tense occasions, the emphasis in the public discourse quickly shifts from stressing the similarities in customs, traditions and beliefs shared by countries in the region, to exposing their divergent ways of life and unbridgeable contrasts.  

The same lack of social cohesion is evident in most populations' attitude toward cross-border migrants.  In Thailand, as in neighbouring countries, the public perception of migrants from within the sub-region is generally negative.  Age-old prejudices remain deeply ingrained in the public mind, as it became clear in the days following the tsunami in January 2005, when migrants from Myanmar were accused of looting vulnerable households - as their ancestors had allegedly done in the past. 

More purposive efforts are needed if an inclusive multi-cultural environment and a sense of community are to emerge in the region. Proclaiming collaboration at the government level or expecting that development efforts that trickle down will eventually foster common ground among the GMS inhabitants are not sufficient.  Specific strategies ought to be devised to address xenophobic policies and change everyday perceptions of people across the borders, in order to deconstruct the past, reduce persistent misunderstanding and strengthen the fundamentals for collective bonding.  

Overcoming while Respecting Differences  

In the conviction that no economic and infrastructural integration can compensate for a dearth in cultural and social unity, a few pioneering efforts - such as collaborative studies on shared histories, networks of GMS journalists, teaching of Mekong studies, and exchanges among GMS students - have been launched.  Even if limited in scope, the ideas proposed could break new ground and provide inspiration for larger initiatives.