Rethinking Development Studies in Southeast Asia: State of Knowledge and Challenges 7 – 8 March 2015 University Academic Service Centre (UNISERV) Chiang Mai University Host organizations:
• Regional Center for Social Science and Sustainable Development (RCSD), Faculty of Social •
Sciences, Chiang Mai University Center for ASEAN Studies (CAS), Chiang Mai University
Background Development studies as a distinctive academic subject has proliferated after the World War II in response to need to understand, interpret, induce and question social transformation occurring in developing countries. The social transformation as we have observed is quite complex, comprehensive and dynamic, and it is commonly described as “development” or “modernity”—a trajectory which transforms developing countries to be like the Western world. To understand and interpret the global phenomena of development and modernity, multi‐disciplinary approach is required, particularly social sciences. Academics and practitioners of development and modernity have subscribed to, as well as reflected upon, different paradigms, such as, dependency theory, Marxist and Neo‐Marxist development theories, and postmodernism. While these metta‐theories tend to analyze the causes and consequences of the social transformation, the postmodern turn suggests that emphasis should be placed on wide range of possibly discordant and even contradictory views, voices and discourses. Thus, “development” is one of the very metta‐ narratives that is to be questioned. How postmodernism would lead to disentangling the malaise of development still needs to find out. It is interesting to see how the subject of development studies has generated multiple sub‐ fields of study allowing scholars from different disciplines to look into development phenomena. The conventional rural development approach is gradually replaced by community‐based, participatory development, while environment and resource management and agrarian transformation have become a new terrain of investigation. The crucial role of the nation‐state in the context of globalization in the control of natural resources and citizens still receives great attention. Lately, some scholars take a “cultural turn” in approaching development paying attention to representation and power leading to an increasing interest in governmentality. They also pay attention to the way in which countries mobilize cultural power to create their imageries to rebrand themselves. Development studies also encompasses the intersect between development and various aspects of society, such as gender and development, ethnic conflict and state, civil society, social capital, globalization and localization, religion and development, media and consumption, urbanization and climate change, etc., to name a few. To a certain extent, this evolution of development studies tends to unnecessarily create departmentalization and boundary maintenance.
At the emergence of increasing regional integration in Southeast Asia as a result of neoliberal economic reforms, the region has encountered an era of development that is characterized by an accelerated rate of economic change and investment, transborder/ boundary migration and mobility, growth in extractive industries, environmental degradation, land and water grabbing, an increased flow of culture and ideas, human rights violations, and so forth. In light of this, there is an urgent need for ‘rethinking’ development studies, that is, how the subject should expand or refocus in order to better address the emerging issues in the region, regional integration and its inclusion and exclusion. The seminar will involve those who work in development studies throughout Southeast Asia in order to reflect the variety of programs available. It will ask questions on how development studies in the region is conceptualized, positioned and planned. Furthermore, the seminar will address the future direction of development studies in the region and how a collaborative network can be fostered in Southeast Asia and beyond to better address the challenges mentioned above. Objectives To reflect, share and exchange experiences in teaching/research with regard to development • studies in Southeast Asia To identify new challenges and emerging issues in development studies in changing context • of Southeast Asia
Format of the seminar Format of the seminar will be a roundtable discussion based on short paper presentation by representatives of development studies programs. A number of invited scholars of the field will be asked to add comments and share their experience. The issues of each presentation include: 1) The orientation of the program and the thematic issues which each program emphasizes or specializes; 2) In light of integration of ASEAN Community, how each program redesigns its program and curriculum, revises courses, and evaluates methodologies or refocuses upon new emerging issues and debates. Also how the program of study envisions collaboration to be forged to encourage exchanges and mutual learning among faculties and students. 3) Recommendations for academic collaboration, information sharing, as well as staff and student exchanges. Contact Regional Center for Social Science and Sustainable Development (RCSD) Faculty of Social Sciences, Chiang Mai University 239 Huay Kaew Road, Tambon Suthep, Amphoe Muang, Chaing Mai e‐mail: rcsd@cmu.ac.th URL: http://rcsd.soc.cmu.ac.th Tel: 053‐943595‐6 Fax: 053‐893‐279