Given the diversity of the eleven countries of Southeast Asia, this course will focus on the common experiences of many of these countries, while using variation in experiences to explain different political outcomes. Students will develop an appreciation for the complex forces that animate, stifle and shape political change in contemporary Southeast Asia. The course will narrow the field of study by looking in-depth at three countries: Cambodia, Burma and Thailand.
Much of what we know about the contemporary politics of any part of the world is drawn from the stories of victories told from positions of power and privilege. These often allow us to read between the lines to discover violence, poverty and persecution of those outside elite classes. We will draw upon life stories of a brutal mass murderer in Cambodian politics, a biography of a Thai leader that cannot be published in Thailand, and one major literary figure’s biography of arguably the most seminal figure in Burmese politics. Students are expected to actively engage news stories about current politics in these countries. Additional readings will be assigned to contextualize the biographical works.