Abstract

The rapid postwar economic growth in the Southeast Asia region has led to a transformation of many of the societies there, together with the development of new types of anthropological research in the region. Local societies with originally quite different cultures have been incorporated into multi-ethnic states with their own projects of nation-building based on the creation of "national cultures" using these indigenous elements. At the same time, the expansion of international capitalism has led to increasing flows of money, people, languages and cultures across national boundaries, resulting in new hybrid social structures and cultural forms.

This book examines the nature of these processes in contemporary Southeast Asia with detailed case studies drawn from countries across the region, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. At the macro-level these include studies of nation-building and the incorporation of minorities. At the micro-level they range from studies of popular cultural forms, such as music and textiles to the impact of new sects and the world religions on local religious practice. Moving between the global and the local are the various streams of migrants within the region, including labor migrants responding to the changing distribution of economic opportunities and ethnic minorities moving in response to natural disaster.

Shinji Yamashita is Professor of Cultural Anthropology at the University of Tokyo.

"This book is a useful resource…one of its more important contributions is that it presents valuable insights into the notion of globalising Southeast Asia and how people deal with this in different parts of Southeast Asia, including the confusion experienced in facing it."  ·  The Asia-Pacific Journal of Anthropology

"The papers are well written and as a whole relate well to the overall theme of the book. In this regard, the book is a fine example of how much anthropology has to offer studies of globalization."  ·  Asian Anthropology

"For those who treasure the diversity and richness of Southeast Asian cultures, and relish the vitality, ingenuity and perseverance of its peoples, the collective message [of this book] is very encouraging ... It makes great ‘escapist reading’ from the currently depressing international scene, and deserves a wide readership by all concerned with the risks, uncertainties and threats of volatile (and manipulated) globalization. All Southeast Asian aficionados can look forward to a smorgasbord of inspiration from this collection, and hopefully from the future volumes in this series."  ·  Pacific Affairs

J. S. Eades is Professor of Anthropology at the College for Asian Pacific Studies, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Japan.