Green Industrial Policy in Southeast Asia: Developmental States, Export-Oriented Manufacturing, and the Paradox of ‘Green’ Transitions
Authors:
Jewellord Nem Singh (University of Sussex), Daniel Chavez (TNI)
Abstract:
This case study examines green industrial policy in Southeast Asia, exploring how developmental states with established industrial upgrading abilities handle green transitions while maintaining competitive positions in global value chains. The research question asks: Can Southeast Asian developmental state models achieve ecological sustainability without compromising economic dynamism and poverty alleviation? Findings reveal that, although countries like Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia have quickly implemented relatively successful national policies through effective state coordination, export-oriented industrialisation patterns often reproduce precarious labour conditions and environmental pollution despite ‘green’ labelling. The study shows that Southeast Asia’s developmental states have strong institutional capacities for coordinated green transitions that exceed market-led approaches; however, democratising these processes remains essential for truly fair outcomes.
