352 pp. January 2008
paper, ISBN 978-0-8248-3229-2, $26.00
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Keywords: |
Southeast Asia
sociology
textbook |
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The Sociology of Southeast Asia: Transformations in a Developing Region
by Victor T. King
A Choice Outstanding Academic Title
“A remarkable tour de force. . . . To write about the sociology of such a diverse region as Southeast Asia is a formidable task that has been brilliantly solved by Professor Victor King, a noted authority on the subject. The text is well written and easy to read, which destines it for use in advanced undergraduate classes in Asian sociology (and possibly also for political science, anthropology and social history).” —International Asian Forum: International Quarterly for Asian Studies (1:2, 2009)
“King, an accomplished scholar on the sociology, history, and anthropology of Southeast Asia, has written an engaging sociological survey of the region, one of the first of its kind and a welcome contribution to Southeast Asian studies. . . . His analysis is remarkably comprehensive in its examination of long-term political and economic trends. Moreover, King offers a sophisticated assessment of the Asian values debate, and he considers the complex forces, both internal and external, driving cultural change. The volume is of particular value in evaluating classical models of sociological theory against the empirical database available for the diverse societies of Southeast Asia. King’s compilation exemplifies the importance of comparative and historical sociology, and it should become an indispensable reference for students of Southeast Asian history. . . . Essential.” —Choice (46:4, December 2008)
“Victor King has produced a lucid, comprehensive, and challenging analysis of the state-of-the-art of Southeast Asian sociology. The book is not only an excellent textbook for courses on Southeast Asia or development sociology, but also ‘required reading’ for all social scientists embarking on research on the area. I am certain that it will become a long-lasting addition to the standard literature on Asia.” —Hans-Dieter Evers, University of Bonn
One of the main problems faced by teachers and students who have a scholarly interest in Southeast Asia is the lack of general, user-friendly texts in the social sciences. The absence of an introduction to the sociology of Southeast Asia is especially unfortunate. This volume attempts to meet these needs. This is, then, the first sole-authored introductory sociology text on Southeast Asia that focuses on change and development in the region, provides an overview of the important sociological and political economy writings, and considers the key concepts and themes in the field since 1945. Some multiauthored works do exist but these either are outdated or focus on specialized topics. Aimed primarily at undergraduates up to the final year, it will also be a useful reference work for postgraduates and researchers who lack such a general work.
illus. For sale only in the U.S., its dependencies, Canada, and Mexico
Victor T. King is professor of Southeast Asian studies and executive director of the White Rose East Asia Centre at the University of Leeds.
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