SOAN 312 | Indonesia and Southeast Asia in Cultural Context

This course provides an anthropological overview of Southeast Asia, one of the most diverse and fascinating regions of the world, with a focus and required field component in Indonesia. As a survey of Southeast Asian cultural groups and histories from an ethnographic perspective, the course begins on campus, but finishes in Yogyakarta, Central Java'a city often described as the cultural heart of Indonesia, and the country's center of higher education. In the first section of the class, students investigate the archaeology of and initial migration to the region. Students then examine the origins of agriculture and the development of complex state societies, and the influence of world religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam) in the cultural development of Southeast Asia. Students then look at case studies of indigenous peoples in the region. Students also explore the economic and cultural impact of European colonialism and the response of Southeast Asian groups to European imperialism, as well as the post-colonial period of nation building. The final section of the course is more geographically focused, and examines the cultural contexts of many important issues in contemporary Indonesia, including environmental decline and deforestation, the impact of globalization and industrialization, challenges faced by ethnic and religious minorities, and human rights concerns.