Universität Wien

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

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 24 - Kultur- und Sozialanthropologie
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

the course will take place on-site at Kolingasse 14-16, Seminarraum 7 in order to allow for a face-to-face exchange and personal learning environment

Monday 09.10. 15:00 - 18:15 Seminarraum 7, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
Monday 23.10. 15:00 - 18:15 Seminarraum 7, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
Monday 06.11. 15:00 - 18:15 Seminarraum 7, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
Monday 20.11. 15:00 - 18:15 Seminarraum 7, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
Monday 04.12. 15:00 - 18:15 Seminarraum 7, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
Monday 08.01. 15:00 - 18:15 Seminarraum 7, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
Monday 22.01. 15:00 - 18:15 Seminarraum 7, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

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.

Assessment and permitted materials

For a successful completion of the course the following accomplishments have to be achieved:
• Regular participation in class and active involvement in discussion
• Reading of papers and submission of reading tasks (up to 4 tasks)
• Literature research and review
• Presentation in class
• Final term paper

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The grading is based on following achievements (will change according to Type of LV):

• Active participation in class (reading and discussion of literature) (10%)
• Work assignments related to core reading material (reading tasks) (20%)
• Concept note (10%)
• Independent research of topic and presentation in class (10%)
• Final term paper (5-8 pages) (50%)

Examination topics

The examination will encompass the work items as outlined in the course requirements.

Reading list

Selection of texts (subject to change). All texts for compulsory readings can be downloaded in the Moodle course.

Carrol, T., Shahar, H., & Jones, L. (2020). The Political Economy of Southeast Asia: Politics and Uneven Development under Hyperglobalisation. Palgrave Macmilla

Chambers, P. & Napisa Waitoolkiat (2017). The Political Economy of the Military in Southeast Asia. NIASPress. (Selected chapters)

Croissant, A., & Lorenz, P. (2018). Comparative Politics of Southeast Asia: An Introduction to Governments and Political Regimes. Springer International. (Selected chapters)

Einzenberger, R. and Schaffar, W. (2018) “The Political Economy of New Authoritarianism in Southeast Asia”, Austrian Journal of South-East Asian Studies 11(1)

Evers. H.D. and Gerke, S. (2009) “Strategic Group Analysis”, Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn.

McGregor, A., Law, L., and Miller, F. (2018). Routledge Handbook of Southeast Asian Development. Routledge (Selected chapters)

Middleton, C. (2012). Transborder Environmental Justice in Regional Energy Trade in Mainland South-East Asia. Austrian Journal of South-East Asian Studies,5(2), 292–315.

Østby, G., 2016. Rural–urban migration, inequality and urban social disorder: Evidence from African and Asian cities. Conflict Management and Peace Science 33, 491–515.

Prapimphan Chiengkul (2019). Uneven development, inequality and concentration of power: a critique of Thailand 4.0. Third World quarterly.

Rigg, J. (2015). Challenging Southeast Asian Development: The shadows of success. Routledge. (Selected chapters)

Scott, J. (2009). The Art of Not Being Governed. Yale University Press. (Selected chapters)

Simpson, A. (2018). The Environment in Southeast Asia: Injustice, Conflict and Activism. In Contemporary Southeast Asia: The Politics of Change, Contestation and Adaptation (pp. 164–180). Red Globe Press.

Thompson, E.C., Bunnell, T., Parthasarathy, D., 2013. Introduction: Place, Society and Politics Across Urban and Rural Asia. In: Bunnell, T., Parthasarathy, D.,

Yeoh, Brenda S.A. (2016). “Migration and Gender Politics in Southeast Asia.” Migration, Mobility, & Displacement 2 (1): 74-88.

Association in the course directory

VM6 / VM1;

Last modified: Tu 10.10.2023 10:48