Contemporary politics in Southeast Asia must be
understood in light of colonialism, the nationalist
movements that colonial rule in effect produced,
and the geo-strategic imperatives of the
cold war. Colonial rule defined the territorial boundaries
and institutions of the modern state, nationalism
provided a new political discourse and elite, and
the cold war helped determine the nature of
authority in post-colonial states. This course will
examine the political landscape of
Southeast Asia, paying particular attention to the
historical conditions (colonialism, modernity,
nationalism, war) which gave rise to the construction
of Southeast Asia as a geo-political entity and
to the boundaries and institutions of particular states.
The course will focus on key themes
such as: democratization and nationalism, the role of
ethnic minorities, the political role of religion, etc
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