Southeast Asian Societies and Politics
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 2023/2024 Spring semester
Karin Dean (language of instruction:English)
lecturer of 2024/2025 Autumn semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
Course aims
Provide an overview of the contexts and issues directing Southeast Asian societies and politics, with the focus on state-society relations and tensions. Study in-depth selected social, political and cultural issues, problems and developments in contemporary Southeast Asia. Introduce the political processes and underlying contexts around the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
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:
- understands how and why the contemporary states in Southeast Asia evolved in the shapes and sizes as found today; they will understand the multi-ethnic societies, the competing nationalisms and regionalisms that all shape the politics (or conflicts) in the region and beyond;
- is able to discuss the underpinning issues of ASEAN politics such as non-interference, border control and consensus in comparative perspective to European contexts;
- is able to see trends and developments in societies and critically evaluate the prospects for political stability in each state.
- understands how and why the contemporary states in Southeast Asia evolved in the shapes and sizes as found today; they will understand the multi-ethnic societies, the competing nationalisms and regionalisms that all shape the politics (or conflicts) in the region and beyond;
- is able to discuss the underpinning issues of ASEAN politics such as non-interference, border control and consensus in comparative perspective to European contexts;
- is able to see trends and developments in societies and critically evaluate the prospects for political stability in each state.
Teacher
Karin Dean
Study programmes containing that course