South & SE Asian Studies

This seminar looks at political engagements of Southeast Asian diasporas as a lens to interrogate colonialism, postcolonial violence, power, contemporary politics, transnational processes, neoliberalism, as well as globalization. Southeast Asian diasporas have been shaped by diverse historical, cultural, and political economic contexts, flows, obstructions, and entanglements. And indeed the term "diaspora" itself should be carefully considered in non-essentialist and non-homogenizing ways. Nonetheless, various Southeast Asian diasporas share certain similarities. Beyond reductionist and essentialist portrayals of victimhood, this seminar looks instead at the formation of diasporas and delves into diasporic experiences and politics of survival, solidarity, and resistance as well as dwelling and world-making as individuals and communities carve lives amid the challenges and multiple and multi-directional attachments of living outside the "homeland" while remaining connected to it.

This course explores Singapore’s appearance as a trading port in the 14th century, the reasons for its growth over 700 years, and the sea’s influence on Singaporean society and economy. It includes topics from archaeology, history, economics, engineering, and ecology.

This course focuses on the colonial period in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. In addition to the political, social, and economic effects of colonial rule in each of these countries, attention will be given to the evolution of 'Indochina' as an entity created by the French and to its impact on relations among the Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Lao peoples. These issues will be examined in the context of precolonial history and as a backdrop to the destructive warfare, that followed independence.

This graduate level course examines the problems and challenges the Philippines faces today. It covers the history of the Philippines since independence in 1946, focusing on the effects of colonial rule, nationalism, political crises, and the economic underpinnings of the nation-state. Topics include geography, politics and history, religion and culture, media and society, uneven development, and overseas Filipinos.

This course focuses on the influence of Islam in Southeast Asia. It examines how Islam as a religion, and a political one at that, has played a role in the development of countries such as Indonesia, Birma, the Philippines, and Thailand.