A large number of Southeast Asian female immigrants married Taiwanese men and have resided in Taiwan with a marital status since the 1990s. They are now the fifth biggest ethnic group and are...Show moreA large number of Southeast Asian female immigrants married Taiwanese men and have resided in Taiwan with a marital status since the 1990s. They are now the fifth biggest ethnic group and are officially called ‘New Immigrants’ in Taiwan. According to the Taiwan Social Change Survey conducted by Academia Sinica about the public attitude towards Southeast Asian marriage immigrants in 2004 and 2014 respectively, we find an evident pattern that the overall public attitude towards Southeast Asian marriage immigrants has become more positive and inclusive during this decade. In this thesis, on the basis of the survey data, I argue that the marriage immigrants’ social capital plays a pivotal role in the transformation of public discourse in Taiwan. I apply the theory of social capital to analyze how the New Immigrants’ social capital is generated, accumulated and exchanged, and focus on three forms of social capital: bonding, bridging and linking. I propose that a broad social network based on their social capitals enabling marriage immigrants to participate in public affairs is the core element which affects the overall attitude of the host country.Show less
In this Master Thesis a novel approach is presented to study the extinction of the giant hominid Gigantopithecus blacki from Palaeolithic Southeast Asia, around 300 ka in the Middle Pleistocene,...Show moreIn this Master Thesis a novel approach is presented to study the extinction of the giant hominid Gigantopithecus blacki from Palaeolithic Southeast Asia, around 300 ka in the Middle Pleistocene, while early Homo survived. This novel approach consists of alternative solutions to established methods, based on a multidisciplinary background. It concerns palaeozoloogical questions from an archaeological interest that require to be solved with 3D virtual reality methods, including 3D Photogrammetry and Occlusal Fingerprint Analysis (OFA). After Comparative Morphometric Analyses (CMA’s) on the dentition and mandibles of 4 analogue hominid species (G. gorilla, P. pygmaeus, P. boisei and H. sapiens), 3D Photogrammetry and Occlusal Fingerprint Analysis (OFA) were performed on isolated G. blacki teeth. The mastication of G. blacki, based on dental macrowear and mandibular morphology as proxies, could reveal many inferences on the relationship between mastication and extinction. These inferences included: (1) dental occlusal surface area which facilitated dental wear; (2) the distribution of dental wear facets per wear types; (3) the orientation of wear facets; (4) dental arcade shape; (5) specific morphometric regions used during mastication; (6) specific adaptation to a restricted palaeoenvironment (habitat and niche); and (7) palaeodiet. Surprisingly, in contrast to the hypothesis that mastication in G. blacki would be most similar to P. pygmaeus, it tends to be more similar to a G. gorilla, with a comparable ‘specialization-factor’ to P. boisei. However, the relationship found between mastication and extinction is more complex than it initially seemed. Although there exists a causal relationship, in which mastication determined palaeodiet, which eventually caused extinction of G. blacki, the reality might be more complex than this rather simplified relationship. Therefore, the relationship between mastication and extinction is not one-to-one, but should always be considered in association with other factors. Comparative interpretations between G. blacki and H. erectus (sensu lato) on ‘failure versus success’ from an ‘inferior versus superior’ approach, are false and not justified. However, such a hierarchical comparison does seems justified with H. floresiensis. As it was vulnerable to similar palaeoenvironmental fluctuations as G. blacki. Overall, dental macrowear and mandibular morphology as reliable proxies for mastication and extinction have great potential, but should be interpreted cautiously to avoid over-interpretations. Therefore, this Master Thesis is a pilot-study for future research.Show less
Nature around the globe is under threat of extinctions. A one-cures-all solution for this diverse problem is yet to be found, if ever. Declining wildlife populations and nature can be countered...Show moreNature around the globe is under threat of extinctions. A one-cures-all solution for this diverse problem is yet to be found, if ever. Declining wildlife populations and nature can be countered when they are being protected; however, without the right incentive, this is virtually impossible. Finding the right solutions for the protection and preservation of nature in Southeast Asia is challenging and will take a holistic approach. This thesis aims to explore whether the domestication of flora and fauna can serve as a solution for protecting nature, while simultaneously producing economic benefits for the local communities. The commodification of nature is picking up pace in Southeast Asia and is turning nature into a commodity that is being sold in the markets of Southeast Asia. This thesis will conduct three case studies on the domestication of flora and fauna to research how each case can contribute to protecting nature in Southeast Asia, which are: (1) the Asian Arowana, (2) Agarwood (Aquilaria genus), and (3) payment for environmental services.Show less
In 2007 Sri Lanka joined the ASEAN Regional Forum of the Association of South East Asian Nations. Sri Lanka has been working towards this for forty years. Already in 1967 and in 1981 the government...Show moreIn 2007 Sri Lanka joined the ASEAN Regional Forum of the Association of South East Asian Nations. Sri Lanka has been working towards this for forty years. Already in 1967 and in 1981 the government of the country voiced their desire to become a member. It was rejected on the grounds that the country was not part of Southeast Asia. Myanmar, which was a part of the region, was accepted into the regional organization in the nineties. The question that these developments raise is why does Sri Lanka not belong to the region of Southeast Asia? How did the representatives of the member states know where the borders were? My research questions was: Why was Sri Lanka not allowed to join the ASEAN and Burma was? The reason why Sri Lanka was not granted membership to the ASEAN that was given was that the country was not a part of Southeast Asia but I believe that a case can be made that the domestic situation in Sri Lanka has also played a part in the decision.Show less
Research master thesis | Asian Studies (research) (MA)
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This thesis examines the ways in which the history of 1965-66 is remembered and represented in contemporary Indonesia, both in national public space and among a group of high school pupils in...Show moreThis thesis examines the ways in which the history of 1965-66 is remembered and represented in contemporary Indonesia, both in national public space and among a group of high school pupils in Yogyakarta. The history of 1965-66, a history of mass killings and imprisonment of hundreds of thousands of alleged communist Indonesians, has for a long time been silenced and mystified by anti-communist myth-making that was created under Suharto’s authoritarian rule. Despite the end of Suharto’s regime in 1998 and numerous attempts to counter the state propaganda, this master-narrative that labels victims as perpetrators deserving of their fate is still widely available in contemporary Indonesian state and society. This thesis examines how and why master- and counter-narratives of “1965” continue to exist and circulate in Indonesia today. By combining a focus on contestations of the past in public space with research into the perceptions of the younger generation in particular, it explores how the politics of memory work in everyday practice. A survey conducted among 170 high school pupils in Yogyakarta provides unique insight into the highly complex and problematic ways in which the history of 1965-66 is remembered by a group of young Indonesians today. Thereby, this thesis provides further insight into the lasting legacies of mass violence in post-authoritarian Indonesia.Show less
This paper set out to examine how successful ASEAN was in making its regional governance more inclusive and “people-oriented”, as aimed for in its charter. This rhetorical shift towards greater...Show moreThis paper set out to examine how successful ASEAN was in making its regional governance more inclusive and “people-oriented”, as aimed for in its charter. This rhetorical shift towards greater people empowerment can be seen as a response to such external pressures as the rising civil society, international normative pressures as well as diminishing credibility due the regional challenges faced in the 90s, an attempt to regain ground domestically as well as internationally. It must be acknowledged that by adopting rhetoric of people empowerment slow but steady successes have been achieved. Notwithstanding the progress and benefits ASEAN’s change of course and following interactions have brought, in reality rhetoric is decoupled from ASEAN’s political practices. While attempting to regain ground, the association’s intergovernmental nature and on-going tensions between more and less democratic member states prevented it from actually embracing this course. Despite its expressed goals, ASEAN has so far failed to establish clear formal interfaces for the interaction with civil society. The conflict between the principle of sovereignty and the clear advantages of adhering to global trends and domestic pressures towards integration and democratisation that ASEAN faces is important to understand this discrepancy between expressed aspirations and political reality. Within ASEAN, ever increasing regional economic integration in the region stood in contrast with nationalistic sentiments and socio-economic developmental pressures. Indeed, existent consultations with civil society seem largely to be aimed at giving greater legitimacy to the charter- that ultimately only consolidated ASEAN’s state-centred nature. Facing competing institutional logics of the more democratic and traditionally more illiberal or even authoritarian member states, a situation of institutional complexity, decoupling rhetoric from practice enabled maintenance of the stability of the ASEAN community while retaining organisational efficiency. The association remains largely inaccessible to those rendered unsuitable to its reform agenda, making it not “people-oriented”.Show less
Bachelor thesis | South and Southeast Asian Studies (BA)
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"Indonesia is one of the countries with the highest number of social media users. However, social media is mainly used in Indonesia (even by politicians) to spread defamation, rumors, and gossip....Show more"Indonesia is one of the countries with the highest number of social media users. However, social media is mainly used in Indonesia (even by politicians) to spread defamation, rumors, and gossip. This is inter alia confirmed by the many anonymous social media accounts only spreading defamation. Rumors and gossip, as well as technology such as mobile phones with cameras and social media, can be seen as means to bridge the gulf between the private practice and the public discourse. With the rise of technological developments available in Indonesia - such as phones with cameras, smartphones, Web 2.0 and thus social media - there appeared an increase of cases in which Indonesian politicians are discredited with their private (sexual) behavior. In this thesis of mine, I will elaborate on this trend of discrediting politicians with sex scandals via social media in Indonesia. What does this trend tell us about Indonesian society? What does it say about democracy, law, morality and Islam in Indonesia’s society? With an eye to answering these questions, with the first being my main question, I would first like to introduce and elaborate a bit upon a few topics that I will be using in my thesis when answering my main question, such as social media. Then I will continue with a chapter in which I will introduce a few case studies of sex scandals that happened in Indonesia. The subsequent chapters will be about topics concerning aspects of the Indonesian society: one chapter about democracy, one about law, and one about morality and Islam. Lastly, I will conclude and answer the main question in the conclusion."Show less
Corruption is a popular topic subject to much generalisation and debate over issues of morality, democracy and economy, but rarer are true categorisations that seek to label different types of...Show moreCorruption is a popular topic subject to much generalisation and debate over issues of morality, democracy and economy, but rarer are true categorisations that seek to label different types of corruption and analyse them as having the potential for good and bad. This paper devises four categories of corruption: selfish, political advantage, economic advantage, and functional, then studies their impact and response to anti-corruption measures within Southeast Asia.Show less
Trade is seen by most archaeologist, working with Medieval Southeast Asia, as the main reason for economic development and social interaction. However, through a study of the archaeological and...Show moreTrade is seen by most archaeologist, working with Medieval Southeast Asia, as the main reason for economic development and social interaction. However, through a study of the archaeological and historical material in Cambodia that impression is challenged. The presently known archaeological data in fact suggest that international trade was limited; Chinese ceramics seems to have been restricted, The Kingdom had no currency or standardized values and Cambodian exports are few and only found in the neighboring countries (provinces). The academic emphasis on trade has instead relied on historical sources, however,the interpretation of these seems to be embedded in a post WW II economic theoretical bias (Marxism & Cliometrics). The thesis questions the relevance of modern economic logic in the past and the significance trade had in Medieval Cambodia, both socially and economically.Show less
