BEXP 12A06 - Religion, state and ethnicity in Southeast Asia

This course is resolutely comparative. Its purpose is twofold, on the one hand empirical and, on the other, conceptual. From the first perspective we shall together develop an understanding of several countries in one of the most dynamic regions in the world today. From the latter perspective, through a concentration on five countries in Southeast Asia, we shall address three forces strongly present in global society - namely those of constructed senses of ethnicity, religiously inspired behaviour and forms of nationalism - and seek to understand how they impinge on relations with the structuring order of the nation-state. An understanding of the ten countries of the geographical region that, since World War II, has been designated as Southeast Asia is beyond the possibilities of a semester course. Rather we shall concentrate on the five larger countries in which the dynamics of the three elements of our conceptual focus are most at play: Burma/Myanmar, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. From a religious/philosophical point of view these five countries are influenced by the six major religious/philosophical traditions present in global society: Buddhism (Burma/Myanmar, Thailand), Islam (Indonesia), Hinduism (an underlying belief system in all three of these countries), Christianity (the Philippines), Confucianism (Vietnam) and Daoism. Including Siam (Thailand), the only one of the polities to have remained politically independent, all five countries were profoundly impacted upon (and, in the case of Indonesia and the Philippines, largely constructed by) Western colonization. The nation-states that emerged in the second half of the twentieth century were designed to meet Western, Westphalian norms. Yet do these norms, with their assumption of ethnically homogenous societies, Judea-Christian inspired concepts of hierarchy, the rule of law and a separation of Church and State correspond to local realities? Moreover, as in Europe, the development of modern nation-states was accompanied by the growth of forms of nationalism. However to what extent are nationalist forms of imagining, to use Benedict Anderson's felicitous phrase, compatible with other senses of identity such as those linked to sense of ethnicity or of religious belief? Finally, what are the consequences for the political trajectories of the five countries of our focus.

David CAMROUX

Séminaire

English

Spring 2024-2025

To validate the course, the student is expected to pass the following assignments (at least three grades): 1°) An end of semester joint essay (70%). As I wish to encourage group work this should be written by 2-3 students (maximum), one Asian and the other not. The essay should be of 10-15 pages maximum each page of 1 500 characters. Students are encouraged to use bibliographical resources in their native languages. 2°) A reading report, due for the 5th class (20%) 3°) Class participation (10%)

At the end of the course, the student is expected to have : 1°) Developed a clearer idea of these three conceptual tools 2°) Obtained some basic ideas of the trajectories of the countries of Southeast Asia 3°) Hanoned his/her ability to write academic papers.