“Sea Is a Region Without an Identity.” Discuss.
Name: Soh Chang Yuan
Email Address: a0096459@nus.edu.sg
Matriculation Number: A0096459L
Tutorial Number: D12
Tutor: Ng Shi Wen
Question 3
“SEA is a region without an identity.” Discuss this statement with reference to at least 3 examples.
Introduction
Southeast Asia (SEA) is a region whose countries include and are classified into 2 different regions namely the mainland, consisting of Thailand, Cambodia, Burma, Laos, Vietnam and Peninsula Malaysia, and the insular regions, consisting of East Malaysia, East Timor, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia and The Philippines. This distinction however, is not only geographical but also one of cultural and religious differences. The literal meaning of the term SEA comes from a historical classification of the region by Westerners as being in Asia but south of China and east of India. (Bloodsworth, 1970) The two asian countries mentioned were more prominent to the European countries due to their relations in commerce. Hence, the rest of the regions within Asia were residually referred to as SEA. (Emmerson, 1984)
What then, can be defined as identity within a region or even a country? State identity requires commonalities, ranging from cultural to historical to economical to other beliefs etc, amongst the various levels of people from individuals, groups and all citizens of the state. These are essential if we consider nation building as the creation of a cohesive political community, which is characterized by an abiding sense of identity and common consciousness. (Leifer, 1972) For the purposes of this essay, this definition will then be extrapolated to include regional identity as a common sense of identity amongst regional member countries as defined by the factors above.
To suggest that SEA is a region without an identity would lead one to perceive Southeast Asia as more of a geographical expression, rather than a region that embodies unique traditions and cultures that defines the people of this region as being
Email Address: a0096459@nus.edu.sg
Matriculation Number: A0096459L
Tutorial Number: D12
Tutor: Ng Shi Wen
Question 3
“SEA is a region without an identity.” Discuss this statement with reference to at least 3 examples.
Introduction
Southeast Asia (SEA) is a region whose countries include and are classified into 2 different regions namely the mainland, consisting of Thailand, Cambodia, Burma, Laos, Vietnam and Peninsula Malaysia, and the insular regions, consisting of East Malaysia, East Timor, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia and The Philippines. This distinction however, is not only geographical but also one of cultural and religious differences. The literal meaning of the term SEA comes from a historical classification of the region by Westerners as being in Asia but south of China and east of India. (Bloodsworth, 1970) The two asian countries mentioned were more prominent to the European countries due to their relations in commerce. Hence, the rest of the regions within Asia were residually referred to as SEA. (Emmerson, 1984)
What then, can be defined as identity within a region or even a country? State identity requires commonalities, ranging from cultural to historical to economical to other beliefs etc, amongst the various levels of people from individuals, groups and all citizens of the state. These are essential if we consider nation building as the creation of a cohesive political community, which is characterized by an abiding sense of identity and common consciousness. (Leifer, 1972) For the purposes of this essay, this definition will then be extrapolated to include regional identity as a common sense of identity amongst regional member countries as defined by the factors above.
To suggest that SEA is a region without an identity would lead one to perceive Southeast Asia as more of a geographical expression, rather than a region that embodies unique traditions and cultures that defines the people of this region as being
References: Bibliography: 1) (ASEAN Secretariat, 2009) About ASEAN, Overview by ASEAN Secretariat retrieved 2009 from http://www.aseansec.org/about_ASEAN.html 2) (Bloodsworth, 1970): An Eye for the Dragon. by Dennis Bloodworth. Southeast Asia Observed, 1954-1970 New York: Farrar, 1970. p. xiii. 3) (Business Source Premier, 2012): People. Thailand Country Review [serial online]. July 2012;:159-160. Available from: Business Source Premier, Ipswich, MA. Accessed September 16, 2012. 4) (Buss-Tjen, 1958) Malay Law by P. P. Buss-Tjen. The American Journal of Comparative Law , Vol. 7, No. 2 Spring, 1958, pp. 248-267 5) (Crisp, 2010) The Psychology of Social and Cultural Diversity edited by Richard J 8) (Emmerson, 1984) “’Southeast Asia’: What’s in a name?” by Donald K. Emmerson. Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, Vol. 15, No. 1 (Mar., 1984) pp. 1-21 9) (Gillogly and Adams, 2011) Everyday Life in Southeast Asia edited by Kathleen M 10) (Hamby, 2005) Outline of U.S. History is a publication of the U.S. Department of State written by Alonzo L. Hamby in November 2005. pp. 5-10 11) (Houben, 2003) Southeast Asia and Islam 12) (Leifer, 1972) Dilemmas of Statehood in Southeast Asia by Michael Leifer. 1972, Asia Pacific press pages 47-57 13) (Phanit, 1980) Regional Integration Attempts in Southeast Asia: A Study of ASEAN’s Problems and Progress 17) (Yinger, 1985) Ethnicity by J. Milton Yinger. Annual Review of Sociology , Vol. 11, (1985), pp. 151-180 18) (Zulueta, Year Unknown) “I speak Chinese but…” Code-switching and identity construction among Chinese-Filipino Youth