Course code

HIL7254.HT

old course code

Course title in Estonian

Kagu-Aasia ühiskonnad ja poliitika

Course title in English

Southeast Asian Societies and Politics

ECTS credits

6.0

Assessment form

Examination

lecturer of 2026/2027 Autumn semester

Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.

lecturer of 2026/2027 Spring semester

Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.

Brief description of the course

This course explores Southeast Asia as one of the most diverse regions in the world in terms of ethnicity, politics and economies. It explores the political trajectories of the multi-ethnic societies, competing nationalisms and regionalisms, and addresses the consequences of confining such a diversity into the rigid boundaries of eleven nation-states with the resulting (and changing) contemporary political regimes. The lectures and readings will discuss all Southeast Asian states, as well as the politics of their belonging to the ASEAN and the dynamics of the latter. By doing this, it will address fundamental questions about political change in comparative perspective.

Learning outcomes in the course

Upon completing the course the student:
- possesses systematic knowledge of the historical and political formation of Southeast Asian states and understands the role of ethnic diversity, nationalism, and regional movements in state-building;
- can critically and comparatively analyze the core political principles of ASEAN (e.g., non-interference, consensus, border control) and relate them to global and European political models;
- is able to identify and analyze contemporary social and political trends in the region and critically assess the prospects of states for political stability and democratic development;
- can engage in reasoned discussion about the underlying causes of Southeast Asian domestic and foreign policy conflicts, using appropriate professional terminology and theoretical frameworks.

Teacher

Karin Dean

Study programmes containing that course

Asian Studies (HILAM/26.HT)
Asian Studies (HILAM/25.HT)
Asian Studies (HILAM/24.HT)
Asian Studies (HILAM/23.HT)
Asian Studies (HILAM/22.HT)
Asian Studies (HILAM/21.HT)
Asian Studies (HILAM/20.HT)
Asian Studies (HILAM/19.HT)
Asian Studies (HILAM/18.HT)
Asian Studies (HILAM/17.HT)
Asian Studies (HILAM/16.HT)