SEAArch - The Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog

‘Continuity and Change: (Re)conceptualising Power in Southeast Asia’

March 26th-28th 2009
Hosted by CRASSH (Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities),
University of Cambridge, UK

Keynote Speakers:
James Scott (Sterling Professor of Political Science and Professor of Anthropology, Yale University)
Shelly Errington (Professor of Anthropology, UC Santa Cruz)

The study of power in contemporary Southeast Asia has never been more timely. Over the last half-century, the region has undergone innumerable far-reaching changes. It has witnessed the rise of postcolonial nation-states, rapid industrialization, economic growth and democratization but also genocide, political upheaval and widespread repression. Power lies at the core of these important developments, whether in the form of brute military force or as a more capillary ‘disciplinary’ influence on religious and political subjectivities. New religious, economic and political movements—all drawing deeply on local traditions while proposing new forms of personhood, civil and political society—cut across national, cultural, ideological and sectarian boundaries.
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The tourist toll and sewage problem are among the top concerns for Angkor in a recent international meeting.

Environmental concerns raised about Angkor of Cambodia
Xinhua, 07 June 2008
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From the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore:

BUDDHISM ACROSS ASIA: NETWORKS OF MATERIAL, INTELLECTUAL AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE
February 16-18, 2009 Hosted by Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore

Proposals are invited for papers based on original research and using primary sources on any of the following themes:

1. Education and centers of learning (such as, but not limited to, Taxila, Nalanda, Vallabhi, Mathura, Bairam-Ali, Srivijaya, Dunhuang, Chang-an, Hangzhou, etc.);

2. The transmission and translation of ideas and texts;

3. Buddhism and local cultures: assimilation, conflict and absorption;

4. Buddhism, statecraft, and material culture;

5. Excavating Buddhism: the role of archeology in understanding the history of Buddhism;

6. Buddhist rituals and ceremonies across cultures;

7. Cross-currents in Buddhist art and architecture;

8. Anthropologies of Buddhism in Asia;

9. Contemporary Buddhism and Buddhist Institutions in Asia.

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From the Palembang Centre for Archaeology:

It is the general assumption that Srivijaya was an powerful maritime kingdom that played an important role in the political forum in early Southeast Asia for many centuries, from 7th century to the end of 13th century AD. Just as its sudden appearance not very much is known of its decline, for that matter, the extent of this hegemony especially in Insular Southeast Asia during the height of its power. It influenced many social aspects in the region at that time, such as history of political life, beliefs, culture and economy.
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From Academy Professorship Indonesia (special thanks to Nat for flagging this):

The Academy Professorship Indonesia (API) in Social Sciences and Humanities under the auspices of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and the Indonesian Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with the Graduate School of Gadjah Mada University, foresees the urgent need to build up closer networks among the young Indonesian scholars with their fellows in the other parts of the world. A scientific event to provide the opportunity for them to exchange and share ideas is in great need. To meet this objective, the API program in Social Sciences and Humanities and the Graduate School of Gadjah Mada University are intending to organize an International Graduate Student Conference on Indonesia in the year 2009.

For further information please contact:
Siti Nur Hidayah
Email: figcindonesia@gmail.com
Hp: +62 85228585969
or
Andy Wahyu Widayat
Email: igsc.indo1@gmail.com
HP: +62 81392376645

Forms can be downloaded from the website.

Just a reminder - deadline for submission is on May 15.

3rd Singapore Graduate Forum on Southeast Asia
Date: 28/07/2008 - 29/07/2008
Venue: Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Bukit Timah Campus

The Asia Research Institute (ARI) of the National University of Singapore (NUS) invites applications from postgraduate students who are engaged in research on Southeast Asia to attend the 3rd Singapore Graduate Forum on Southeast Asia Studies on 28 – 29 July 2008.

Marking the completion of the Asia Research Institute’s ASEAN Research Scholars Programme 2008, the Forum provides a platform for communication and cooperation among the postgraduate students as they mature into the next generation of academic leaders.

Postgraduate students working on Southeast Asia are invited to submit abstracts based either on work in progress that is at an advanced stage (i.e. already completed data collection and analysis), or on completed work. NUS students are encouraged to take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity to interact and exchange ideas with students from ASEAN as well as those from other regions whose interests focus on Southeast Asia.

This two-day workshop, the third of an annual series of forums for graduate students who work on Southeast Asia, will be organised thematically. Themes will include (but are not limited to) issues in religion, politics, economy, gender, culture, migration, and population and social change.

In addition to student presentations, experts of the region will also be invited to give keynote speeches, sharing their insights on challenges and issues facing contemporary social science scholarship.

Registration fees and Singapore expenses will be covered for those whose abstracts are accepted for presentation. If necessary, students may also apply for some funding to cover regional travel costs.

Registration information here.

The conference doesn’t specifically state archaeology, although at last year’s conference there were a couple of archaeology papers presented.

3rd Singapore Graduate Forum on Southeast Asia
Date: 28/07/2008 - 29/07/2008
Venue: Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Bukit Timah Campus

The Asia Research Institute (ARI) of the National University of Singapore (NUS) invites applications from postgraduate students who are engaged in research on Southeast Asia to attend the 3rd Singapore Graduate Forum on Southeast Asia Studies on 28 – 29 July 2008.

Marking the completion of the Asia Research Institute’s ASEAN Research Scholars Programme 2008, the Forum provides a platform for communication and cooperation among the postgraduate students as they mature into the next generation of academic leaders.

Postgraduate students working on Southeast Asia are invited to submit abstracts based either on work in progress that is at an advanced stage (i.e. already completed data collection and analysis), or on completed work. NUS students are encouraged to take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity to interact and exchange ideas with students from ASEAN as well as those from other regions whose interests focus on Southeast Asia.

This two-day workshop, the third of an annual series of forums for graduate students who work on Southeast Asia, will be organised thematically. Themes will include (but are not limited to) issues in religion, politics, economy, gender, culture, migration, and population and social change.

In addition to student presentations, experts of the region will also be invited to give keynote speeches, sharing their insights on challenges and issues facing contemporary social science scholarship.

Registration fees and Singapore expenses will be covered for those whose abstracts are accepted for presentation. If necessary, students may also apply for some funding to cover regional travel costs.

Registration information here.