A quest to redefine Southeast Asian studies is underway at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. In spring 2024, the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) embarked on a transformative mission, aiming to diversify voices and perspectives within academia.
The majority of influential Southeast Asian literature is authored by Western scholars, with comparatively fewer contributions from Southeast Asian and other non-Western intellectuals. In collaboration with Michigan State University’s (MSU) Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Sopheak Chann, a CSEAS’s faculty fellow at MSU, helped conceive and organize the LuceSEA webinar series on decolonizing Southeast Asia.
“To decolonize literature is to recondition the processes of knowledge production,” said Chann. “We invited speakers from diverse backgrounds and geographies to discuss decolonizing Southeast Asia Studies by exploring four conditions in which Southeast Asia literature is produced: learning, teaching, researching and writing.”
In-depth discussion
The LuceSea webinar series, a virtual platform named in honor of the Henry Luce Foundation, a key supporter of CSEAS at UH Mānoa, divided the series into four sessions: Relearning Southeast Asia, Reteaching Southeast Asia, Researching Southeast Asia and Rewriting Southeast Asia. Organizers invite educators to incorporate the video series as a resource into their syllabi and curriculum.
In the webinar, Relearning Southeast Asia: Field School, graduate students from various regions in Southeast Asia; Sara Loh (Malaysia), Dalilah Laidin (Brunei) and Ariel Mota Alves (Timor-Leste) shared their educational experiences. Moderated by Ehito Kimura, an associate professor in political science at UH Mānoa, the session prompted students to reflect on their field school experiences and their impact on understanding Southeast Asia.
Reteaching Southeast Asia delved into urban planning and policy issues. Led by Miriam Stark, director of CSEAS, and featuring UH Mānoa Professors Ashok and Priyam Das from the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, the session re-examined colonial legacies and their influence on urban landscapes.
Researching Southeast Asia: Positionality and Fieldwork highlighted the importance of flexible research methodologies. From Cambodia to Thailand, panelists shared their academic journeys, offering insights into colonial histories and enriching scholarly discourse.
Rewriting Southeast Asia: Data and Publication showcased the complexities of data analysis and publication challenges. Panelists from different disciplines and nationalities delved into the intricacies of scholarly production in Southeast Asia.
Funding for the series came from the Henry Luce Foundation Southeast Asia Initiative, which is part of the five-year grant to CSEAS.
