The Cold War was a period of intense conflict across Southeast Asia, marked by a bloody mix of interstate conflicts, civil wars, displacement, and genocides. The disastrous tally of human suffering and lives wasted have led many to argue that the term “Cold War” is itself a misnomer in the region. Moreover, coinciding with this period of global tension were more or less protracted national liberation struggles and the consolidation of postcolonial regimes across Southeast Asia, amplifying the impact of the Cold War as its requirements shaped alliances, ideological frames, and state and societal priorities. The Cold War was played out in domestic politics both at the level of the state and within civil society, tying both sectors, too, to the international stage and transnational actors. Western “domino theory” and fear of communism translated into broad repression of popular movements and dissent. The anticommunist “west” sought stable governments who could resist communism, even if through coercion. For its part, the communist bloc likewise supported authoritarian governments, but those with a [...]