POLITICAL SCIENCE 324b
The Politics of Maritime Southeast Asia
Winter Term
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
University of British Columbia
January-April 2011
11:00am-noon
Buchanan B213
Department of Political Science
Shane Joshua Barter
Office: BUCH C307
shanejb@interchange.ubc.ca
Office Hours: MWF after class or by appointment
THE COURSE
Poli 324b, the Politics of Maritime Southeast Asia, provides a comprehensive introduction to
the Southeast Asian archipelago: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines.
Students are expected to leave the course with an understanding of not just the politics, but
also the societies, economies, and cultures of the region. Ideally, it is the second half of Poli
324a, taught by Professor Diane Mauzy, although this is not a strict prerequisite.
The challenge in organizing this course is whether to approach it according to themes or by
country. In keeping with a long tradition at UBC, I chose the latter. We will focus on a
single country at a time, beginning with historical context, contemporary politics and
institutions, and then continuing challenges.
POLICIES
First: plagiarism is the most serious offence in academia. Most plagiarism is unintentional,
but even this is treated seriously. It can result in failing the assignment or expulsion from
the University. See www.vpacademic.ubc.ca/integrity/policies.htm for details. To help
control plagiarism, the Department of Political Science demands that all assignments be
submitted to www.turnitin.com. The Class ID is xxxxx, and the class password is archipelago.
Second: despite being a lecture-driven course, I place great emphasis on constructive
participation. This is where the 10% participation mark comes from. This is a place to share
ideas / opinions and to challenge each other, but always respectfully: listening to your
professor, TA, and colleagues (not checking email or napping); arriving to class on time;
avoiding gender, racial, or religious insensitivity; and completing the required readings.
Third: you must communicate effectively regarding illness and late papers. If you have to
miss a due date or multiple lectures, it is important to contact me and provide a doctor’s
note / reasonable excuse. You must contact me before a deadline; requests for extensions
after the due date will generally not be considered. Late papers will be deducted 5% per day,
including weekends, beginning at the end of class.
Fourth: communication. I am available via email. If it is a general question, other students
may want to hear the answer, so ask it in class (and score the participation mark YOU
deserve). For assignments, email is no substitute for face to face chats.
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TEXTS
Government and Politics in Southeast Asia, edited by John Funston (New York: Zed Books,
2006). New: $51.50. Required
In Search of Southeast Asia: A Modern History, edited by David Joel Steinberg (Hawaii:
University of Hawaii Press, 1987). Recommended
This history text is strongly recommended, but is not required. The exam and essay will not
demand specific historical knowledge. This said, general historical knowledge will be necessary
for writing strong papers and final exams / essays. It is at the University Bookstore, in the
library, can be purchased used, and parts are available on Google Books. Any edition will do.
Academic Journal Articles. Required
For the most up to date discussions of the challenges faced by each country, students are
expected to read country studies in Asian Survey, along with a range of other articles from
academic journals. These are available through UBC Gateway, and are linked to on the
course website.
Novels: Students are expected to complete a short review of a novel concerned with
Southeast Asian history / politics. Novels can be borrowed from the library or purchased
through a variety of new and used bookstores. Students are encouraged to suggest their own
novels (I’m always keen on expanding my reading list), but these must be approved by the
instructor. Students must choose a novel they have not read yet. Here are some suggestions:
Pramoedya Toer:
Shahnon Ahmad
Han Suyin
Agnes Newton Keith
Jose Sionil
E.D Dekker (Multatuli)
Mochtar Lubis
This Earth of Mankind, Child of All Nations, Arok of Java, The Girl from the Coast
Rope of Ash, No Harvest but a Thorn, Shit @ PukiMak @ PM
And the Rain my Drink
Land below the Wind, White Man Returns
Ermita
Max Havelaar
Tiger, A Road with No End
COURSE WEBSITE
This syllabus is also available as a webpage at https://www.arts.ubc.ca/index.php?id=12729.
The webpage is the document of record for this course, in case dates or assignments change.
Also, it will save you time, as I have hyperlinked many journal articles to save you the search.
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EVALUATION
10%
Participation
10%
Novel Review
40%
Research Essay
40%
Final Exam
Due in class, 04 February
Due in class, 04 April
All written assignments must use the standard margins, 12-point font, double-spaced, etc.
Please submit them to me in class (not via email) and also submit them to www.turnitin.com.
I am not too concerned if you are a touch over or under the page limits, but be reasonable
and remember that more is not necessarily better. If I were you, I’d try to finish the paper a
couple of days early and swap with a fellow keener for editing over a cup of coffee. This will
improve your grade. Avoid colloquial language and contractions, make a clear argument (I
want you to hit me over the head with it, “I argue that ____”), and ensure your papers have
clear structure. Never, NEVER use Wiki or blogs as sources. I think you know this, but the
grading break down is as follows: 90-100% is A+, 85-89 is A, 80-84 is A-, 75-79 is B+, 70-74
is B, 65-69 is B-. Aim for the first one.
1) Participation: 10% of your grade will be based on respectful participation in class. This
means asking insightful questions, engaging constructively with colleagues, punctuality,
attendance, not playing on the internet, and communicating with the instructor on the novel
and essay assignments.
2) Novel Review: 10% of your grade will be based on writing a short (3-6 page, doublespaced) review of a Southeast Asian novel. The twin goals of the assignment are to 1) Help
you gain an understanding of the region through non-academic sources, and 2) To
communicate my expectations in terms of writing and citation before the Major Essay. Due
in class, 04 February
3) Major Essay: 40% of your grade will be earned through a major essay, under 20 pages
double-spaced. Students may choose an aspect of the politics from any of the countries in
this course, but MUST discuss this with the instructor. An informal outline is due in class
on 11 February (do not bother with turnitin.com for the outline). The outline should be
about half a page, listing the topic, country / region, a prospective thesis statement, and two
major sources. The final paper will be graded primarily in terms of clarity, argument, and
evidence. Due in class, 04 April
4) Final Exam: 40% of your grade will be assessed through a final exam. Date and location
to be announced, between 11-28 April. Do not book your flights until the examination
schedule is posted. The exam will have three parts: ten multiple choice questions based on
specific terms from class and the Funston text (worth one point each, 10% of your final
grade), three short answers on country-specific themes (choose three of five, worth five
points each, 15% of your final grade), and one essay on regional themes (choose one of three,
worth fifteen points, 15% of your final grade).
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CALENDAR
INTRODUCTION
05 January
Wednesday
Session 01
Readings
Is Southeast Asia a Region?
Introduction to the course; the Map and its Ideas
Donald Emmerson, “Southeast Asia: What’s in a Name?” Journal of Southeast
Asian Studies 15:1 (March 1984); pp. 1-21.
07 January
Friday
Session 02
Mainland Southeast Asia
Overview of Mainland Southeast Asia (Poli 324a review)
Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Burma
Readings
NONE
10 January
Maritime Southeast Asia
Monday
Session 03
Readings
‘Malayness’ and its Edges, Southern Thailand
Reid, Anthony, “Understanding Melayu (Malay) as a Source of Diverse Modern
Identities,” Journal of Southeast Asian Studies 32:3 (October 2001); pp. 295-313.
AND
Joseph Chinyon Liow, “The Security Situation in Southern Thailand: Toward
an Understanding of Domestic and International Dimensions,” Studies in
Conflict and Terrorism 27:6 (November 2004); pp. 531-548.
MALAYSIA
12 January
Wednesday
Session 04
Readings
14 January
Friday
Session 05
Readings
17 January
Monday
Session 06
Readings
Overview and History
Steinberg et al: Chapter 9, “The Malay Sultans,” pp. 76-82; Chapter 16, “The
Malay Peninsula to 1874,” pp. 139-145; Chapter 30, “Malaya,” pp. 332-339
Independence to Present
Robert O. Tilman, “Malaysia: The Problems of Federation,” The Western
Political Quarterly 16:4 (December 1963); pp. 897-911.
State and Society
Funston Text: John Funston, “Malaysia: Developmental State Challenged,” pp.
160-202.
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19 January
Issues: Dominant Party Democracy
Wednesday
Session 07
Readings
UMNO and Elections
21 January
Issues: Ethnic Identity
Friday
Session 08
Readings
24 January
Monday
Session 09
Readings
Diane K. Mauzy and Shane J. Barter, “Learning to Lose? Not if UMNO Can
Help It,” in Political Transitions in Dominant Party Systems: Learning to Lose, edited
by Edward Friedman and Joseph Wong (New York: Taylor and Francis, 2008).
Draft available here.
Joseph Chinyong Liow, “Exigency or Expediency? Contextualizing Political
Islam and the PAS Challenge in Malaysian Politics,” Third World Quarterly 25:2
(2004); pp. 359-372.
Malaysia: Recent Events, Looking Ahead
Johan Saravanamuttu, “Malaysia: Political Transformation and Intrigue in an
Election Year,” Southeast Asian Affairs (2009); pp. 173-192.
Reuters, “Factbox: Five Political Risks to Watch in Malaysia” (15 December
2009).
SINGAPORE
26 January
Overview and History
Wednesday
Session 10
Readings
Key Terms: TS Raffles, People’s Action Party, Lee Kwan Yew
28 January
State and Society
Friday
Session 11
Readings
1965-Present, Overview
31 January
Issues: Democracy and Asian Values
Monday
Session 12
Readings
Does development lead to democracy?
Steinberg et al: Chapter 37, “Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei,” pp. 405-417.
Funston Text: Jon S.T. Quah, “Singapore: Meritocratic City-State,” pp. 291327.
AND
James Gomez, “The Singapore Media: What Needs to be Done?”
http://www.hrsolidarity.net/mainfile.php/2001vol11no2/22/
Donald K. Emmerson, “Singapore and the ‘Asian Values’ Debate,” Journal of
Democracy 6:4 (1995); pp. 95-105.
AND
Kishore Mahbubani, “The Pacific Way,” Foreign Affairs 74:1 (JAN-FEB 1995);
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pp. 100-111.
AND
Christopher Lingle, “The Propaganda Way,” Foreign Affairs 74:3 (May/June
1995); pp. 193-196.
02 February
Wednesday
Session 13
Readings
Singapore: Recent Politics, Looking Ahead
Dynasty, Ends Justify Means?
Terence Chong, “Singapore in 2008: Negotiating Domestic Issues,
Confrontations, and Global Challenges,” Southeast Asian Affairs (2009); pp.
289-304.
BRUNEI
04 February
Friday
Session 14
Readings
Brunei
History, Overview, Monarchy, State and Society, Shellfare State
Funston Text: Roger Kershaw, “Brunei: Malay, Monarchical, Micro-State,” pp.
1-35.
***04 February: NOVEL REVIEW DUE***
THE PHILIPPINES
07 February
Monday
Session 15
Readings
09 February
Wednesday
Session 16
Readings
Overview and Early History
Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, Friarocracy, Katipunan, Jose Rizal
Steinberg et al: Chapter 11, “The Spanish Governors,” pp. 91-95; Chapter 19,
“The Philippines, 1872-1872,” pp. 160-170; Chapter 25, “The Philippines,” pp.
269-281
Independence and The Marcos Era
Steinberg et al: Chapter 39, “The Republic of the Philippines,” pp. 431-442
11 February
People’s Power
Friday
Session 17
Readings
Video: Overthrowing Marcos
Lance Morrow, “The Shoes of Imelda Marcos,” Time Magazine (31 March
1986)
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***11 February: ESSAY OUTLINE DUE***
****14-20 February: SPRING BREAK***
21 February
Monday
Session 18
Readings
23 February
Wednesday
Session 19
Readings
25 February
Friday
Session 20
Readings
Marcos to Aquino to Arroyo
Ben Reid, “The Philippine Democratic Uprising and the Contradictions of
Neoliberalism: EDSA II,” Third World Quarterly 22:5 (October 2001); pp. 777793.
The State and Society
Funston Text: Joaquin L. Gonzalez III, “Philippines: Counting People
Power,” pp. 252-290.
Issues: Oligarchy and Governance
John Thayer Sidel, “Beyond Patron-Client Relations: Warlordism and Local
Politics in the Philippines,” Kasarinlan 4:3 (1989); pp. 19-30.
28 February
Issues: Violence
Monday
Session 21
Readings
NPA, Mindanao Separatism, Abu Sayyaf
02 March
Issues: Recent Politics, Looking Ahead
Wednesday
Session 22
Readings
Norimitsu Onishi, "Sinatra Song Often Strikes Deadly Chord," New York Times
(6 February 2010).
AND
International Crisis Group, “The Philippines: Running in Place in Mindanao,”
Asia Briefing 88 (16 February 2009); pp. 1-9.
AND
Wilfredo Magno Torres III, “Introduction: RIDO,” in Rido: Clan Feuding and
Conflict Management in Mindanao, edited by Wilfredo Magno Torres III (Manila:
Asia Foundation, 2007); pp. 11-35.
Melanie S. Milo, “Philippines in 2008: A Decoupling of Economics and
Politics?” Southeast Asian Affairs (2009); pp. 245-266.
AND
Al Labita, “Arroyo’s Failures Seen in Massacre,” Asia Times Online (25
November 2009).
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INDONESIA
04 March
History and Overview
Friday
Session 23
Readings
Java & Outer Islands, Indonesian Identity
07 March
Dutch Rule & Independence
Monday
Session 24
Readings
09 March
Wednesday
Session 25
Readings
11 March
Friday
Session 26
Readings
14 March
Monday
Session 27
Readings
Steinberg et al: Chapter 18, “Java, 1757-1875,” pp. 151-159; Chapter 17, “The
Archipelago, 1750-1870,” pp. 146-150
Steinberg et al: Chapter 20, pp. 192-197; Chapter 27, “Indonesia,” pp. 292-311
The Republic of Indonesia: Sukarno & Suharto
Steinberg et al: Chapter 38, “The Republic of Indonesia,” pp. 418-430
Indonesian Democracy
Andreas Ufen, “The Evolution of Cleavages in the Indonesian Party System,”
GIGA Working Papers (April 2008).
Suharto to SBY
Funston Text: Anthony L. Smith, “Indonesia: Transforming the Leviathan,”
pp. 74-119.
16 March
Issues: Armed Conflict
Wednesday
Session 28
Readings
Poso and Ambon, Papua, Aceh
Guest Lecturer: Nathan Allen
Shane Joshua Barter, “Resources, Religion, and Resistance: The Sources of
Conflict in Aceh,” Small Wars & Insurgencies 19:1 (January 2008); pp. 39-61.
18 March
Issues: Political Islam
Friday
Session 29
Readings
Laskar Jihad, PKS, Nahdlatul Ulama
Guest Lecturer: Nathan Allen
Saiful Mujani and R. William Liddle, “Muslim Indonesia’s Secular
Democracy,” Asian Survey 49:4 (July 2009); pp. 575-590.
21 March
Issues: Local Politics
Monday
Session 30
Readings
Decentralization, Local Elections, & Village Life
“Decentralization in Indonesia Since 1999”
Nankyung Choi, “Local Elections and Democracy in Indonesia: The Riau
Archipelago,” Journal of Contemporary Asia 37:3 (2007); pp. 326-345.
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23 March
Wednesday
Session 31
Readings
Future Challenges
Corruption, SBY’s successor
Marcus Mietzner, “Indonesia in 2008: Democratic Consolidation in Soeharto’s
Shadow,” Southeast Asian Affairs (2009); pp. 105-123.
TOWARDS THE PACIFIC
25 March
Friday
Session 32
Readings
28 March
Monday
Session 33
Readings
East Timor, Papua New Guinea, and Oceania
Damien Kingsbury, “East Timor in 2008: Year of Reconstruction,” Southeast
Asian Affairs (2009); pp. 357-369.
Hills, Identity, and the State
James C Scott, “Stilled to Silence at 500 Metres: Making Sense of Historical
Change in Southeast Asia,” International Institution for Asian Studies Newsletter 49
(Autumn 2008); pp. 12-13.
CONCLUSIONS
30 March
Wednesday
Session 34
Readings
ASEAN
Emmerson
01 April
NO CLASS
04 April
Southeast Asia
Monday
Session 35
Readings
Common Themes, Challenges
Friday
None
***04 April: Research Essay Due***
06 April
Course Review
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Wednesday
Session 36
Readings
None (or all, depends how you look at things)
***11 April – 28 April: EXAMINATION PERIOD ***
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