Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is a region of many identities, peoples, environments, and histories. It is a region with an initial definition imposed by outside powers and recalibrated by local forces. That it is even a region at all is claimed to be miraculous given the impacts of colonialism, war, postcolonialism, and modernity. This module takes Southeast Asia not as a “miracle” region but as a region of multiple, interlinked paths of development. Our definition of development, and the kind of development this module advocates for, is “growth with equity”. This kind of development is not always either successful or evenly distributed, however! And while Southeast Asia is a distinct geographical region (hence the ability to offer this course), this course will assess the complex relationships and political, economic, and cultural differences within the region as well as its interactions with the world at large.