The Emergence of Modern Southeast Asia: A New History - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0824828909 ISBN 13: 9780824828905

Publisher: University of Hawaii Press, 2005

The Emergence of Modern Southeast Asia Acting as editor and writer, historian Owen has shaped the contributions of seven other contributors to present an up-to-date history of Southeast Asia from the 18th century to the present, emphasizing economic, cultural and social issues rather than nation-building. The text shifts between thematic chapters (covering general topics such as identity, livelihood, and gender and race relations) and ... Full description

Review:

By far the best survey of modern Southeast Asian history available. It is a work that should be on the shelf of every scholar and educated layperson interested in Southeast Asia, as its detail and readability make it an ideal reference work.-- "Journal of Southeast Asian Studies"

The single best guide to post-1800 Southeast Asian history.-- "The Historian"

This work represents a substantial step forward for a collaborative project now forty years in the making. . . . No other textbook on Southeast Asia comes even close to it for its detail and coverage of historical themes and events.-- "Itinerario"

This is the best introductory text on Southeast Asian history that this reviewer had come across in many years. . . . The book itself is the embodiment of 'unity in diversity', the leitmotif of Southeast Asia.-- "Contemporary Southeast Asia"

An attractive, accessible, and authoritative modern history. --Royal Society for Asian Affairs, A significant update to the eminently successful In Search of Southeast Asia of almost four decades ago. . . . Highly recommended. Useful as a textbook and for reading at all levels.-- "Choice"

A valuable study for exploring the region's history. . . . The Emergence of Modern Southeast Asia offers discomforting food for thought.-- "IIAS Newsletter"

Synopsis:

The modern states of Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei, and East Timor were once a tapestry of kingdoms, colonies, and smaller polities linked by sporadic trade and occasional war. By the end of the nineteenth century, however, the United States and several European powers had come to control almost the entire region - only to depart dramatically in the decades following World War II. The Emergence of Modern Southeast Asia offers a new and up-to-date perspective on this complex region. Although it does not neglect nation-building (the central theme of its popular and long-lived predecessor, In Search of Southeast Asia), the present work focuses on economic and social history, gender, and ecology. It describes the long-term impact of global forces on the region and traces the spread and interplay of capitalism, nationalism, and socialism. It acknowledges that modernization has produced substantial gains in such areas as life expectancy and education but has also spread dislocation and misery.

Organizationally, the book shifts between thematic chapters that describe social, economic, and cultural change, and "country" chapters emphasizing developments within specific areas. Enhanced by scores of illustrations, The Emergence of Modern Southeast Asia will establish a new standard for the history of this dynamic and radically transformed region of the world.

• Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0824828909
• ISBN 13: 9780824828905
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 576
• Editor: Norman G. Owen