Reflections on Southeast Asian Studies: The Past, Present and Future

From the late eighteenth century to the present, countries in Southeast Asia have experienced major political, social, and historical changes. Following the colonial period, new nations formed, with each country adopting a different political system ranging from presidential democracy to authoritarian communism. A variety of religions are practiced across the region, each having a significant influence on people’s lives. While Buddhism and animism are the major religious practices in Mainland Southeast Asia, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity are observed by the majorities in Bali, Indonesia and Malaysia, and the Philippines, respectively. New types of art and architecture have also been created alongside the development of new nations. The diversity of people in Southeast Asia nurtures richness in various aspects such as culture, media, society, politics, and economics.

The symposium will focus on the following three major areas of study that NTU offers in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, and the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information: Panel I: Culture and Heritage, Panel II: Media Representations and Industries, and Panel III: Politics and History.

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Southeast Asian Studies Symposium Programme_22Apr_for public