240146 VO+UE VM6 / VM1 - Uneven Development in Southeast Asia (2023W)

The course addresses various dimensions of unequal development in Southeast Asia, a region which has been regarded a success story in terms of economic development over the past decades. A number of countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam have transformed themselves from low-income countries into middle income countries. Yet this development has come at a high (social and environmental) cost and has been highly unequal. Not only have some regions been left behind in the process of ‘catching up’ with the ‘global north’, but also several societal sectors and groups have been marginalized or excluded from the increased prosperity. In many countries an oligarchic/military class controls the political institutions and undermined or rolled-back democratic reforms. Thus, the economic liberalization did not result in a democratic transition as previously expected. At the same time the environmental costs have been dramatic and again unequally distributed. Examples include the unequal use of water resources (for electricity generation), extreme (urban) pollution or ongoing deforestation and loss of biodiversity.

Reflecting the diversity of possible disciplinary perspectives on the multi-dimensional process of unequal development in the Southeast Asia region the following topics will be covered in class (the number of topics may vary and change depending on the number of students):

• “Transnational migration”: How transnational migration is intertwined with unequal regional development.
• “The urban-rural nexus”: How economic centers and their 'hinterland' are intertwined in a complex-unequal relationship.
• “Family and gender relations”: Gender dimensions of unequal development, labour division and the sociological impact.
• Dispossession and the production of poverty”: How the production of poverty is related to dispossession and displacement, in particular regarding land.
• “Environmental (transborder) justice” impacts”: How the staggering economic development in some regions produce unequal distribution of environmental costs.
• “Political economy & democratization”: Not only economic growth has been unequal in the region, also political systems and the development of democratic institutions are diverse among ASEAN countries
• “Strategic Groups & Collective Action”: How different social groups are able to organise themselves and thus influence the distribution of resources in society

The course will provide an opportunity for students to familiarize themselves with multiple (disciplinary) perspectives on unequal development in the Southeast Asia region. They will gain insights into central social scientific concepts and debates through up-to-date research and practice to critically reflect and discuss them in class and in writing. Students will independently research a presentation topic, review relevant literature, and practice scientific reading and writing for a final term paper.

Following introductory sessions setting the frame of the course, which will include lectures by the lecturer and by external guest lecturers, students can choose one topic from the suggested topics above. Yet they are also free to choose their own topic of interest as long as it is related to the overall theme of the course.