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2022　Area Studies: South and Southeast Asia

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Academic unit or major
Humanities and social science courses
Instructor(s)
Tanaka Riho 
Class Format
Lecture    (Face-to-face)
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
Wed3-4(G223)  
Group
-
Course number
LAH.A505
Credits
1
Academic year
2022
Offered quarter
3Q
Syllabus updated
2022/4/20
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
Japanese
Access Index

Course description and aims

Southeast Asia is a region that boasts its diversity of geographical environment, society and political economy composed of countries with different charms. This feature, at the same time, makes it difficult to understand the region in a simple manner. This region faces numerous problems specific to newly developed countries too. On the other hand, surely many of you will go to Southeast Asia on a trip or for work in the future, or even in Japan, you will certainly meet more people from Southeast Asia, and you will also get access to more news and other information from the region. This lecture course will provide you with knowledge and perspective which will help you to understand the situation and circumstances and to have a deeper communication with others in that kind of scene.
　This course will enable students to acquire basic knowledge of Southeast Asia from various aspects including the geography, livelihood, culture, society, economy and politics, and also to find a clue to understanding problems related to these topics.

Student learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students will:
(1) have basic knowledge of the geography, livelihood, culture, society, economy and politics of Southeast Asian region and countries
(2) find a clue to understand issues and problems that Southeast Asian region and/or countries are facing

Keywords

Southeast Asia, society, culture, history, politics, economy, development

Competencies that will be developed

Specialist skills ✔ Intercultural skills Communication skills ✔ Critical thinking skills Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

The course will be conducted according to the slides prepared by the instructor. Other materials such as photos and videos will be used as necessary.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Introduction: explore the meaning of studying about Southeast Asia Gain an overview of Southeast Asia and think about the meaning of studying about it.
Class 2 Geography, environment Understand the geography of Southeast Asia and its environment-related problems.
Class 3 Languages, religions, ethnicities Gain knowledge of Southeast Asian languages, religions and ethnicities and understand related issues and problems.
Class 4 Colonial rule and war Understand the impacts of colonial rule and war on Southeast Asia.
Class 5 Nation building, economic development, diplomatic relations Understand the process of nation building, economic development and diplomatic relations of Southeast Asian countries.
Class 6 Education and development Understand the relationship between education and development through exploring examples from Southeast Asian countries.
Class 7 Democratization, globalization and ”reactions”: Today's Southeast Asia Understand the problems that Southeast Asia faces today.
Class 8 Review and final exam Review the content of the course and check your understanding.

Out-of-Class Study Time (Preparation and Review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to course materials.

Textbook(s)

None required. Materials will be provided in class.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Ikuo Iwasaki (2017) Introduction to Modern Southeast Asian History (Kodansha Gendai Shinsho), Kodansha. (Japanese) (ISBN:978-4062884105)
Motoo Furuta (2021) 10 Lectures Southeast Asian History (Iwanami Shinsho), Iwanami shoten. (Japanese) (ISBN:978-4004318835)"

Assessment criteria and methods

Reaction paper (for each class) - 40%, final exam - 60%.

Related courses

  • LAH.A501 ： Area Studies: Europe
  • LAH.A502 ： Area Studies: East Asia
  • LAH.A503 ： Area Studies: Latin America
  • LAH.A504 ： Area Studies: Middle East and Africa
  • LAH.A506 ： Area Studies: North America and Oceania

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

None.

Other

This course is 500-level course. Tokyo Tech’s “wedge-shaped style education” enables students to pursue liberal arts education in a phased manner throughout undergraduate and graduate programs. Students are encouraged to take courses in the sequence of 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 levels. As such, master's students must begin from 400-level Humanities and Social Science courses in 1Q and 2Q of the first year, then proceed to 500-level courses. And master's students entering in September must begin from 400-level Humanities and Social Science courses in 3Q and 4Q of the first year, then proceed to 500-level courses. Students can register for 500-level Humanities and Social Science courses six months after their entrance (i.e. students admitted in April can register in 3Q and 4Q, and those admitted in September can register in 1Q and 2Q).

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