Contemporary Southeast Asia was established in the late 20th century, and with the increasingly prominent position of Southeast Asia on the global economic and political stage, the demand for research in the region has also grown. The original intention of the magazine's founding was to fill the gap in academic research on contemporary issues in Southeast Asia and promote systematic research on the complex and diverse social phenomena and development trends in the region.

The magazine covers various fields such as political development, economic reform, social change, cultural diversity, and environmental issues in Southeast Asian countries. It particularly emphasizes empirical research and policy analysis, encouraging scholars to adopt interdisciplinary research methods such as political science, economics, sociology, anthropology, etc., to reveal the complexity and multidimensionality of Southeast Asia. The contribution of Contemporary Southeast Asia to the academic community lies in its comprehensive and in-depth research on the Southeast Asian region. By publishing high-quality academic papers and research reports, it provides scholars with a platform to showcase their research achievements and promotes international academic exchange and cooperation.