Sociology of Southeast Asia: Transformations in a Developing Region

by Victor T. King

This essential text fills a glaring gap in the social science of South-East Asia with its comprehensive and integrated treatment of the important sociological and political economy writings on the region. Using case studies from across the region, King examines wider processes of change in relation to theories of modernization, underdevelopment and globalization and covers a wide range of themes including class, ethnicity and gender, and locates local-level issues and processes in the context of more general political, economic and cultural transformations.

An essential undergraduate text and a useful postgraduate reference. One of the main problems faced by teachers and students who have a scholarly interest in South-East Asia is the lack of general, user-friendly texts in the social sciences. The absence of an introduction to the sociology of South-East Asia is especially unfortunate. It is the aim of this volume to meet these needs. This is, then, the first sole-authored introductory sociology text on South-East Asia that focuses on change and development in the region, provides an overview of the important sociological and political economy writings, and considers the key concepts and themes in the field since 1945. Some multi-authored works do exist but these are either outdated or focus on specialized topics. Aimed primarily at undergraduates up to the final year, this will also be a useful reference work for postgraduates and researchers who lack such a general work.

"Overall, this textbook presents an admirably comprehensive account of recent social transformation in South East Asia, with clearly focused and selective discussions. It will be a most valuable textbook for students and teachers alike in courses concentrating on the more historical and political economy dimensions of South East Asian studies, as well as being a handbook for research students and scholars working in and on the region." - Dr. Maila Stivens, South East Asia Research, Volume 18, Number 2, June 2010

Victor T. King is currently Professor of Borneo Studies, Institute of Asian Studies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam and has been engaged in a range of research and teaching programs at the University of Leeds, University of Hull, University of London and Chiang Mai University, Thailand. He has long-standing interests in the sociology and anthropology of Southeast Asia, in such diverse fields as social and cultural change, development, tourism and heritage, ethnicity and identity, multidisciplinary area studies, and museum and photographic studies.

Publication year: 2008
352 pp / 229mm x 152mm
1 maps, 28 illustrations, 1 table
ISBN: 978-87-91114-60-1, Paperback
ISBN: 978-87-91114-59-5, Hardback

NIAS Press