Courses Related to Southeast Asia
LISTED BY DEPARTMENT:
ANTH 1680:
From Lost Eden to Perfumed Nightmare: Themes in the Anthropology of the Philippines
Smita Lahiri
Half course, spring term
As a Southeast Asian nation with a history of double colonization by Spain and the US, the Philippines eludes easy categorization within anthropology's regionalist traditions. This course uses the Philippines to probe some of anthropology's blind spots, and as a springboard for analyzing hierarchy, political culture, religion, and performance through comparisons within and beyond Southeast Asia. Recent topical concerns in anthropology, such as nationalism, marginality, and globalization, will also be explored using Philippine materials.
Note: Expected to be given in 2008-09
ANTH 1860:
Colonial Departures
Mary M. Steedly
Half course, fall term
Following World War II, the fabric of European empire in Asia and Africa began to unravel. Sometimes through revolutionary violence, others through peaceful negotiation, new nations declared themselves free of colonial domination. We examine colonialism's 20th century heyday, decline, and aftermath from an anthropological perspective, giving particular attention to local decolonizing practices and to the many forms the postcolonial condition may take.
ANTH 1870:
Island Southeast Asia:Circulating Cultures
Mary M. Steedly
Half course, spring term
An introduction to island Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei) emphasizing circulations of people, goods, ideas, beliefs, wealth, power, and images. Island Southeast Asia has a long history of involvement in global networks of economic distribution, exchange and appropriation. We will focus on cultural dimensions of such circulations, with topics to include urban gridlock, gay slang, terrorism, theme parks, female labor, political crisis, new media, democratization, and the lifestyles of the rich and famous.
ANTH 1690:
Consuming Passions: Cultures of Materialism in Asia
Smita Lahiri
Half course, spring term
How do objects tell the story of people's lives? How do historical relations of exchange constitute inter-community boundaries and communal identities? What can we read into the explosion of new consumer desires, opportunities and fantasies currently seen in the Asia-Pacific region? Anthropological ideas about “material culture” used to work through contemporary formations of national, gender, sexual, and ethnic identity, primarily but not exclusively in South and Southeast Asia.
Note: Expected to be given in 2008-09
ANTH 2880:
Reorienting Southeast Asia
Mary M. Steedly and Smita Lahiri
Half course, fall term
Revisits some classic themes in Southeast Asian ethnography (e.g. “culture” and “charisma”) in the wake of the Asian financial crisis. Topics include: violence and criminality, technology and technocultural mediations, political predation and reform, (trans) local activisims.
Note: Expected to be given in 2008-09
Foreign Cultures 60:
Individual, Community, and Nation in Vietnam
Hue-Tam Ho Tai
Half course, spring term
An introduction to the enduring bases of Vietnamese society and culture. Focuses on the impact of change on the individual, the family, the community, and the nation through the ages. The condition of women from primitive times to the socialist present, the relationship between religion and politics, the continuing struggle over land, and the dilemmas of leadership and national integration are examined through a combination of literary and historical documents as well as more analytical materials.
GOVT S-1732:
War Crimes, Genocide, and Justice
Harvard Summer School
Allan A. Ryan
This course examines the legal regulation of warfare, including the historical evolution of the law of war; war crimes and crimes against humanity, and their punishment; the Geneva Conventions; the growth of international human rights; and the concept of genocide. We examine the trial of Nazi war criminals at Nuremberg, the 1968 massacre at My Lai in Vietnam, the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, the International Criminal Court, and issues of "unlawful combatants" and the courts, as well as other questions raised by the events of September 11, 2001. The focus is on broad concepts of law, justice, and accountability in warfare and genocide. No prior knowledge of legal or military systems is required.
GOVT 1235:
Genocide
Jens Meierhenrich
Half Course,fall term
This course examines the theory and history of genocide. It compares and contrasts the dynamics of genocide in Turkey, Germany, Cambodia, the former Yugoslavia, and Rwanda to shed light on the origins of "final solutions" and their disastrous effects. By examining possible and impossible solutions to the problem of "radical evil" (Kant), the course further assesses the conditions for, and limitations to, achieving justice in domestic politics and international affairs.
Historical Study A-16:
Modern South Asian Global History
Sugata Bose and Amartya Sen
Half course, fall term
This course provides the historical depth and the comparative context in which to understand contemporary South Asia through an historical inquiry into the making and multiple meanings of modernity. It explores the history, culture, and political economy of the subcontinent which provides a fascinating laboratory to study such themes as colonialism, nationalism, partition, the modern state, economic development, refashioning of religious identities, center-region problems and relations between Asia and the West. Significant use of primary written sources (in English) and multi-media presentations.
Historical Study B-68:
America and Vietnam : 1945–1975
Hue-Tam Ho Tai and Ernest R. May
Half course, spring term
Examines modern conflicts in Vietnam and their implications for the US from 1945–1975, from both Vietnamese and American perspectives. Seeks to provide an understanding of the complexity of the war and the ethical dilemmas it raised by examining issues ranging from the power-politics assumptions of decision makers to the personal experiences of those caught in the war. Covers both background and consequences of the war, but the main focus is on the 30-year period during which the fortunes of America and Vietnam became intertwined.
HIST 1634:
Southeast Asian Refugees and the U.S. State: Reading Seminar
Eric Tang (University of Illinois, Chicago)
Half course,fall term
This course surveys the history of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement to the US and the US state policies that have shaped that refugee sojourn. From the denouement of French colonialism, to the Vietnam War quagmire, to the creation of makeshift refugee camps in Southern California, to the resettlement of refugees in America’s impoverished cities, the course traces the relationship between the U.S. state and the refugees from its long war in Southeast Asia.
HIST 1820:
Premodern Vietnam
Hue-Tam Ho Tai
Half course, spring term
Vietnamese history from antiquity to the founding of the Nguyen dynasty in 1802 with emphasis on the period following independence from China in the 10th century. Topics include the Sinicization of Vietnam and the sources of Vietnamese national identity; tensions between aristocratic and bureaucratic rule; territorial expansion and national division; first contacts with the West; the changing status of women.
Note: Expected to be given 2008-09
HIST 1821:
Modern Vietnam
Half course, spring term
Hue-Tam Ho Tai
Survey of Vietnamese history from 1802 to the present. Covers the period of unified rule under the Nguyen dynasty, French colonial conquest, the struggle for independence, the Vietnam War, and the recent unification under Communism. Major topics include the relationship between the state, the village, and the individual; the transformation of Vietnamese society, culture, and politics under French rule; the rise of nationalism and Communism; the causes and consequences of the Vietnam War.
Note: Expected to be given 2008-09
HIST 1672:
The United States in the 1960s
Lisa M. McGirr
Half course, fall term
An introduction to the main developments in American society, culture, and politics during the premiere liberal decade of the 20th century. Topics include the New Frontier, the Great Society, the Vietnam war, the Civil Rights movement, the student movement, the counter-culture, and the rise of populist conservatism.
Course is expected to be offered in: 2009-10
HSPH PIH 244:
Health Sector Reform: A Worldwide Perspective
Harvard School of Public Health
Department of Population and International Health
Dr. T. Bossert
Fall 2 Term.
This course introduces students to the global debate on health sector reform with a focus on the experience of the lower and middle-income countries, including Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand as well as examples from Latin America, Africa and Central and Eastern Europe. The focus is on developing an understanding of how to think about health reform using an approach developed by HSPH faculty for the World Bank Flagship Course on Health Sector Reform, the course includes an explicit framework of goals, objectives, and values, and a careful and systematic analysis of which problems reforms should solve and how they can be expected to solve them
HSPH PIH520:
The Ecology of Health in Development
Harvard School of Public Health
Department: Population and International Health
Dr. R. Levins
Spring 2 term
Themes: The Eco-social Distress Syndrome, a multidimensional imbalance between our species and the rest of nature against the background of the conflicting demands for a rising and equitable standard of living for all and the constraints of sustainability. Each kind of society has its own pattern of relations with the rest of nature including resources, waste, microorganisms, pests, habitats, climate and demography and its own ways of generating knowledge giving rise to distinct patterns of knowledge and ignorance. Each habitat (natural or anthropogenic) provides human societies with its own constraints and opportunities and its own health spectrum. Different strategies of development have differential effects on all of these. In order to span a wide range of alternatives situations, the course will be organized around selected geographic areas (the Lake Victoria basin, Thailand or the Philippines, Central America and the Caribbean), habitats (tropical forests, semi-arid savannas, coastlines, cities), health problems (malnutrition, malaria, cholera, emerging viruses) and development strategies for resource use, agricultural development, national science strategy (neo-liberal, nationalist, socialist) with an emphasis on the less familiar approaches, and international efforts to reconcile development with ecology.
KSG BGP-256:
Management, Finance, and Regulation of Public Infrastructure
Henry Lee
Fall term
This course will look at efforts to privatize the transportation, telecommunication, water, and electricity infrastructure systems in developing countries. Issues to be discussed include when and how to privatize or corporatize infrastructure, awarding concession contracts, public finance, contract and discretionary regulation, asset valuation, and the politics of privatization. The course will rely primarily on case material taken from privatization programs in developing countries, including Brazil, Mexico, Thailand, Argentina, Philippines, and India, as well as key developed countries, including the United Kingdom and Australia.
KSG BGP-460:
Asia in the World Economy
Dennis J. Encarnation
Spring term
Focuses on comparative business-government relations in Asia to engage in current policy debates. Begins by examining alternative interpretations of the Asian economic “miracle,” the relative importance of business-government relations, and current crises that threaten to reshape the political economy of Asia. Next, analyzes national models of business-government relations in Japan, the four NIEs (Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore), the ASEAN-4 (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines), China, and India. Moves cross-nationally to analyze the regionalization and globalization of input (capital and labor) and output (goods and services) markets, and related policy issues: ranging from regional competition for foreign investment to prospects for broader and deeper cooperation in regional integration, to the near absence of such cooperation in regional security policies. Concludes with a re-examination of our understanding of the Asian economic “miracle.” Throughout, academic readings, case studies, and policy briefs are supplemented by a highly interactive Web site to gain access to the most current data and analysis.
KSG PAL-265:
Leadership, Democracy and Authoritarianism: The Politics of the Developing World
Robert Rotberg
This course focuses on the tension between democracy and authoritarianism in the political systems and the day-to-day politics of the nations of the developing world. It examines varieties of leadership and the performance of leaders, both participatory and autocratic, and assesses the critical importance of leadership in the progressive growth of the developing world. The course discusses such controversial subjects as state failure, conflict prevention, truth commissions, corruption, electoral methods, bureaucratic skills and behavior, legislatures, the relevance of different colonial experiences, demographic and ecological variables, ethnicity, economic growth patterns, educational issues, and the causes of intrastate conflict. Subjects include the role of Islam, terror, AIDS, and nation building. The developing world encompasses three-fifths of the world's people, spread across a great arc of territory from Fiji to Haiti — from Oceania through East and South Asia to the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.
Music 194rs:
Special Topics:Proseminar
Gamelan in Performance and Composition
Richard Wolf
Half course, fall term
Students explore instruments of the gamelan orchestra in Indoneasian and international musical contexts. In twice weekly meetings, students learn to perform on Harvard’s own gamelan and read about its musical structure and social-cultural contexts. Final projects are papers or compositions.
Note: No previous experience with the gamelan necessary.
Religion 1702:
the Buddha in Myth,Image and Ritual
Donald K. Swearer (Divinity School)
Half course,fall term
Is the Buddha a spiritual exemplar, the founder of a religion, the iconic locus of devotional ritual, a cosmological principle, or all of the above? This seminar will explore the multifacited nature of the figure of the Buddha primarily within the context of Theravada Buddhism with a particular focus on the Buddha image consecration ritual. Narrative and doctrinal constructions of the Buddha will be informed by recent studies of icons, images, relics, and ritual.
Note: Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 3572.
Prerequisite: Previous work in Buddhism.
Religion 1703:
Theravada Buddhist Traditions
Donald K. Swearer (Divinity School)
Half course, fall term
The Theravåda Buddhist traditions of South and Southeast Asia are often contrasted with Mahåyåna and Tantrayåna expressions of Buddhism in Central and East Asia as doctrinally and ritually narrow and conservative. This course contests this characterization by uncovering the richness and diversity of Theravåda thought and practice against the historical and contemporary backdrop of Sri Lanka and mainland Southeast Asia.
Note: Expected to be given in 2008–09. Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 3573.
SOC-ANAL 43:
Psychological Trauma
Richard J. McNally
Half course, spring term
Few topics in contemporary American culture have sparked as much controversy as has psychological trauma. Although clinical interest in trauma waxed and waned since the 1890s when Freud proposed that people repress memories of childhood sexual assault, interest has markedly increased since 1980 when the American Psychiatric Association ratified the diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to describe the problems of troubled combat veterans of the Vietnam War. The purpose of this course is to survey the clinical, historical, cultural, and political aspects of psychological trauma.
Thai 101a:
Introductory Thai I
Parilmal G. Patil and assistant
Half course, fall term. Hours to be arranged.
Note: Given in alternate years
Thai 101b:
Introductory Thai II
Parilmal G. Patil and assistant
Half course, spring term. Hours to be arranged.
Note: Given in alternate years
Thai 102a:
Intermediate Thai I
Parimal G. Patil and assistant
Half course, fall term, Hors to be arranged.
A two-term continuation of the study of Thai at the intermediate level. Students build on acquired proficiency at the elementary level (or its equivalent) towards achieving more fluency in reading, speaking, writing, and listening comprehension of standard Thai, as well as in cultural-social skills. Introduces new vocabulary and grammar through communicative tasks and text readings, mainly using the situational-communicative methodology.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Elementary Thai (or equivalent) is required. Continuing students who did not take Introductory Thai, as well as new students, are encouraged to talk to the instructor prior to registration.
Thai 102b:
Intermediate Thai II
Parimal G. Patil and assistant
Half course, spring term. Hours to be arranged.
Prerequisite: Thai 102a.
Thai 103ar:
Readings in Thai I
Parimal G. Patil and assistant
Half course, fall term. Hours to be arranged.
Thai 103br:
Readings in Thai II
Parimal G. Patil and assistant
Half course, spring term. Hours to be arranged.
Thai 300:
Reading and Research
Ali S. Asani (spring term only) Parimal G. Patil and assistant (fall term only)
Half course, fall term; repeated spring term
Vietnamese Ba:
Elementary Vietnamese
Binh Ngo
Half course, fall term
Surveys the fundamentals of Vietnamese phonetics, grammar, and vocabulary to provide students with basic ability to understand, speak, read, and write Vietnamese. Conversational ability is stressed through an interactive, communication-oriented approach.
Vietnamese Bb:
Elementary Vietnamese
Binh Ngo
Half course, spring term
Continuation of Vietnamese Ba, with introduction of additional Vietnamese texts and advertisements to enhance reading skills.
Prerequisite: Vietnamese Ba or permission of the instructor.
Vietnamese 120a:
Intermediate Vietnamese
Binh Ngo
Half course, fall term
Further development of speaking, reading, writing, and aural comprehension. Texts on Vietnamese geography, history, culture, and customs will be used, as well as audiotapes and videos. Students are expected to speak Vietnamese in all class discussions.
Note: Conducted entirely in Vietnamese.
Prerequisite: Vietnamese Bb or permission of the instructor.
Vietnamese 120b:
Intermediate Vietnamese
Binh Ngo
Half course, spring term
Continuation of Vietnamese 120a.
Note: Conducted entirely in Vietnamese.
Prerequisite: Vietnamese 120a or permission of the instructor.
Vietnamese 130a:
Advanced Vietnamese
Binh Ngo
Half course, fall term
Development of high proficiency in Vietnamese. Introduction of complex grammar and vocabulary, using authentic Vietnamese texts, audiotapes, videos, and translation of English news articles into Vietnamese. Discussions focus on selected short stories and poems.
Note: Conducted entirely in Vietnamese.
Prerequisite: Vietnamese 120b or permission of the instructor.
Vietnamese 130b:
Advanced Vietnamese
Binh Ngo
Half course, spring term
Continuation of Vietnamese 130a.
Note: Conducted entirely in Vietnamese.
Prerequisite: Vietnamese 130a or permission of the instructor.
Vietnamese 300:
Reading and Research
Binh Ngo