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Emergence of Modern Southeast Asia
Owen, Norman G., ed. The Emergence of Modern Southeast Asia: A New History. Honolulu: University of Hawai‘i Press (2840 Kolowalu Street, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96822-1888, USA), 2005. xxiii, 541 pp. ISBN 0-8248-2841-0 (hc) $65.00; ISBN 0-8248-2890-9 (pa) $29.00. Index. Bib. Illus (b&w).
Compared to other parts of Asia, there is little new writing on modern Southeast Asian history. This problem is partly solved by a new book published by the University of Hawai‘i Press in 2005, edited by Norman G. Owen. The contributing authors are all professors—four of eight hold degrees from Harvard—who teach history internationally. They have all written books on Southeast Asian history in their areas of specialties. David Chandler focuses on Cambodia; William R. Roff has written about Maly; David Joel Steinberg, the Philippines; Jean Gelman Taylor, the only woman author, Indonesia and the general history of Southeast Asia; Robert H. Taylor, Burma or Myanmar; Alexander Woodside, Vietnam; David K. Wyatt, Thailand; and Norman G. Owen, the Philippines and general works on Southeast Asia. Six of these authors worked together in the past to write the book In Search of Southeast Asia. This book was written in 1969 and the authors felt it was influenced by the War for Independence in Vietnam and nationalism in Southeast Asia. Some young scholars advised them to look at Southeast Asia from a new perspective for this book.
One thing that is interesting about this collection of works is that the author’s name is not displayed under the title of each chapter. Nor does it appear at the end of the chapter. Therefore, it is hard to know which author wrote what chapter without looking at the brief author biographies at the end of the book and guessing. It would be good if this information was included, because readers or researchers probably want to know. It is easier to tell who wrote the chapters in Parts 2, 4 and 5 of this book, because these chapters talk specifically about different countries throughout different periods, from the 1700s to the 1900s. However, Parts 1 and 3 discuss generally the lifestyle, economy, politics, and social transformations of Southeast Asia. I am curious to know whether all eight authors worked together to write the chapters in Parts 1 and 3.
This book includes several maps and tables, an explanation of how to use this book, and a preface. There is also a section on the changing names of Southeast Asian countries, which is very helpful as many countries have changed their names several times depending upon the regime in power.
The book’s five different sections include 37 chapters, with valuable pictures, maps, and illustrations in each chapter. Although the book goes back and forth between general and specific coverage of Southeast Asia, it is not difficult to read and understand. Part 1 examines traditional life in the Eighteenth Century and provides an overview for the specific countries mentioned in Part 2. Part 3 is again general, but focuses on the elements that transformed South East Asia and helps readers understand country-specific issues of post-colonialism and globalization discussed in Parts 4 and 5. The authors knew that not everybody would read this book cover to cover, so it is organized so you can go to a specific chapter if you know what country in Southeast Asia you are interested in.
At the end of the book, there is an afterword, notes, information about the authors, and an index. The index is an important part in this book because there are a great number of Southeast Asian terms, geographical names, famous people and events discussed in each chapter. However, the index is less helpful in finding information about a specific country in the general chapters in Parts 1 and 3. I also noticed at least one very minor typo: a passage on Dalat, Vietnam could not be found on p. 249 as shown in the index, but appeared on p. 248. The book’s content was fascinating because it depicted the changes of political, economic, and social life in areas of Southeast Asia from several centuries earlier until now. The authors explain in the book’s introduction:
I was really surprised by how well these non-native writers wrote about the places, peoples, and ideologies. Their insight into each country was so profound that native inhabitants themselves would benefit by reading this book. Overall, I would recommend this book to students studying for their Master’s Degree in Southeast Asian Studies. Academic Libraries with Asian Studies Collections should definitely acquire this important collection.
Compared to other parts of Asia, there is little new writing on modern Southeast Asian history. This problem is partly solved by a new book published by the University of Hawai‘i Press in 2005, edited by Norman G. Owen. The contributing authors are all professors—four of eight hold degrees from Harvard—who teach history internationally. They have all written books on Southeast Asian history in their areas of specialties. David Chandler focuses on Cambodia; William R. Roff has written about Maly; David Joel Steinberg, the Philippines; Jean Gelman Taylor, the only woman author, Indonesia and the general history of Southeast Asia; Robert H. Taylor, Burma or Myanmar; Alexander Woodside, Vietnam; David K. Wyatt, Thailand; and Norman G. Owen, the Philippines and general works on Southeast Asia. Six of these authors worked together in the past to write the book In Search of Southeast Asia. This book was written in 1969 and the authors felt it was influenced by the War for Independence in Vietnam and nationalism in Southeast Asia. Some young scholars advised them to look at Southeast Asia from a new perspective for this book.
One thing that is interesting about this collection of works is that the author’s name is not displayed under the title of each chapter. Nor does it appear at the end of the chapter. Therefore, it is hard to know which author wrote what chapter without looking at the brief author biographies at the end of the book and guessing. It would be good if this information was included, because readers or researchers probably want to know. It is easier to tell who wrote the chapters in Parts 2, 4 and 5 of this book, because these chapters talk specifically about different countries throughout different periods, from the 1700s to the 1900s. However, Parts 1 and 3 discuss generally the lifestyle, economy, politics, and social transformations of Southeast Asia. I am curious to know whether all eight authors worked together to write the chapters in Parts 1 and 3.
This book includes several maps and tables, an explanation of how to use this book, and a preface. There is also a section on the changing names of Southeast Asian countries, which is very helpful as many countries have changed their names several times depending upon the regime in power.
The book’s five different sections include 37 chapters, with valuable pictures, maps, and illustrations in each chapter. Although the book goes back and forth between general and specific coverage of Southeast Asia, it is not difficult to read and understand. Part 1 examines traditional life in the Eighteenth Century and provides an overview for the specific countries mentioned in Part 2. Part 3 is again general, but focuses on the elements that transformed South East Asia and helps readers understand country-specific issues of post-colonialism and globalization discussed in Parts 4 and 5. The authors knew that not everybody would read this book cover to cover, so it is organized so you can go to a specific chapter if you know what country in Southeast Asia you are interested in.
At the end of the book, there is an afterword, notes, information about the authors, and an index. The index is an important part in this book because there are a great number of Southeast Asian terms, geographical names, famous people and events discussed in each chapter. However, the index is less helpful in finding information about a specific country in the general chapters in Parts 1 and 3. I also noticed at least one very minor typo: a passage on Dalat, Vietnam could not be found on p. 249 as shown in the index, but appeared on p. 248. The book’s content was fascinating because it depicted the changes of political, economic, and social life in areas of Southeast Asia from several centuries earlier until now. The authors explain in the book’s introduction:
We need to probe the past, noting what has been forgotten, what remains unaltered, and what has been transformed, striving to understand the discontinuities and new events, to understand how different peoples of the region—now increasingly called “Southeast Asian”—have managed to sustain their unique values, traditions, customs, and priorities while adapting to new realities, ideas, institutions and lifestyles. (p. 14)
I was really surprised by how well these non-native writers wrote about the places, peoples, and ideologies. Their insight into each country was so profound that native inhabitants themselves would benefit by reading this book. Overall, I would recommend this book to students studying for their Master’s Degree in Southeast Asian Studies. Academic Libraries with Asian Studies Collections should definitely acquire this important collection.
Reviewed by Xuan Le, LIS Student, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Review submitted in May 2006.
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