PLT3930 - Southeast Asian politics

Leader(s): Susan Blackburn

Offered

Clayton First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit aims to assess the strategies for development adopted in three countries, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. After reviewing the social and economic problems facing those countries at independence, the subject looks briefly at the development options available and then proceeds to examine the development policies of successive governments from the point of view of identifying the groups which benefit and lose as a result of these policies. Finally, some issues of political economy affecting the region as a whole will be discussed, including environmental controversies, democratisation, globalisation and women and development.

Objectives

As a result of studying this subject, it is anticipated that students will be able to:

1. Understand and explain the different strategies for development adopted by governments in Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia in recent years.

2. Appreciate the importance of implementation of development policies as affecting political outcomes.

3. Analyse the political forces supporting and opposing those policies.

4. Evaluate the intended and unintended effects of those policies on different social, regional, ethnic and gender groups in the three countries.

Assessment

Essay (2000 words): 25%
Essay (4000 words): 45%
Oral tutorial presentation (equiv. 1000 words): 10%
Examination (2 hours): 20%

Contact hours

3 hours (2 x 1 hour lectures and 1 x 1 hour tutorial) per week

Prerequisites

A first-year sequence in Politics or permission.