Asian Studies Commons^™

Smallholders In Capitalist Agriculture: Persistence And Challenges, Qian Forrest Zhang

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

This paper posits that the majority of “smallholders” in contemporary China are commodity producers who must engage in various commodity exchanges to carry out agricultural production and accomplish their social reproduction. Consequently, “smallholder” refers to a family-based economic operation model, rather than a social identity or psychological identification. Within this framework, the study focuses on the intricate relationships between smallholders, various commodity markets, and other market participants. Specifically, it examines two aspects: the relationship between smallholders and capitalized large-scale producers and other agriculture-related capital entities, and the relationship between smallholders and the commodified labor force. The paper argues that the …

Confucian Family Ideal And Same-Sex Marriage: A Feminist Confucian Perspective, Sor-Hoon Tan

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

This article engages the views of PRC Confucian scholars who responded to the United States Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy's citing of Confucius in his majority opinion on same-sex marriage in 2015. It questions their separation of tolerance for homosexuality from legalization of same-sex marriage and argue that tolerance is not enough. The arguments in the mainland Confucian discourse about same-sex marriage highlights the historical and persistent entanglement of Confucianism with patriarchy. Instead of reviving traditional patriarchal society, further entrenching and increasing gender inequality, contemporary Confucianism could shape its own unique modern society that aspires to (and hopefully one day …

Merit And Inequality: Confucian And Communitarian Perspectives On Singapore's Meritocracy, Sor-Hoon Tan

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

This paper compares criticisms of Singapore’s meritocracy, especially against its impact on income disparities and class divisions, with Michael Sandel’s critique of the meritocratic ethic in the United States. Despite significant differences in their history and politics, meritocracy has similar dysfunctions in both societies, allowing us to draw theoretical conclusions about meritocracy as an ideal of governance. It then contrasts Sandel’s communitarian critique of meritocracy with recent Confucian promotion of political meritocracy and meritocratic justice and argues that the Confucian principle of “promoting the virtuous and talented” is different from the contemporary conception of meritocracy. Textual evidence indicates that a …

Belt And Road Initiative: Legal Mechanism To Recover Stolen Assets, Veltrice Tan

Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy

Purpose: This paper aims to determine the types of legal mechanisms that authorities can use to recover stolen assets for and from China. Design/methodology/approach: Newspaper articles and books are examined as are relevant reports by various regulatory authorities and academic institutions. Findings: The effectiveness of legal mechanisms in the recovery of stolen assets may be affected by issues such as the difficulties in tracing illicit funds, the ambiguous nature of “value” as well as the rise in technology. Research limitations/implications: There are limited data available in relation to the prevalence of corrupt officials along the Belt and Road Initiative and …

Beyond “The Forgotten War”: A Multidimensional Exploration Of The Korean War And Its Enduring Impact, Matthew Weishaupt

History - Master of Arts in Teaching

I. Synthesis Essay...................3

II. Primary Sources................20

III. Textbook Critique..............30

IV. New Textbook Entry..........34

V. Bibliography.......................40

Smu Launches Urban Institute Focused On The Study Of Asian Cities, Singapore Management University

SMU Press Releases and News

As Asian cities urbanise at an unprecedented rate, urban policy-makers face the increasingly complex and pressing challenge of balancing urban growth with resilience and sustainability. With migration and the rapid flow of ideas online, old and new city-making practices have become uncomfortably entwined, resulting in contestation for space, resources, and municipal services. In response to megatrends that underscore the critical need to prioritise urban research, Singapore Management University (SMU) today launched the SMU Urban Institute (UI), a new research institute dedicated to multi- and inter-disciplinary research on cities in Asia. SMU UI will look beyond the development of infrastructure, and …

Singapore Management University Report To Stakeholders 2023/24, Singapore Management University

Report to Stakeholders

The past year has been one of significant growth and achievement for Singapore Management University. As we navigated an increasingly complex and challenging world, SMU remained committed to doing the best by our students, harnessing the collective brain trust that our faculty represent, and the professional expertise of our staff, to deliver impact on our community, country, and region. Our focus on nurturing the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and change-makers continues to be at the heart of our educational mission, and our dedication to the highest quality research for academic and societal impact remains our commitment.

The Relationship Changes Between Asian Countries And Advanced Economies Before And After 2008, Jingyu Wang

CGU Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation is aimed to discuss the relationship change between east and southeast Asian countries and advanced economies, especially focus on the export and import changes before and after 2008. This study uses both econometrics model (fixed effect, first difference effect, difference-in-difference model) and social network models to analyze the impact of the 2008 financial crisis on these Asian countries and advanced economies. The results show that after 2008 the impact of exports with advanced economies on GDP per capita growth has changed from negative to positive, while the impact of imports with advanced economies on GDP per capita growth …

Supporting Out-Of-School Girls And Children And Youth From Marginalised Groups In The Asean Region: A Review Of Promising Practices, Anna Dabrowski, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Payal Goundar, Debbie Wong, Jeaniene Spink

International Education Research

Investing in girls’ and women's education can transform the experiences of individuals, as well as shape communities into the future. Girls who are given opportunities to receive an education are more likely to lead productive lives, participate in decision making processes, and shape the trajectories of others. The work of the ASEAN-UK SAGE programme reflects an overarching aim to better understand the challenges facing different types of girls and women in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, identify promising practices that can support girls and women, and create tangible recommendations for those responsible for supporting girls and women's …

Thailand Magic Amulets And Their Multimillion Baht Demand, Ainsley Jong

Asian Review

This paper seeks to explore and understand the making of Thai magic amulets and whether they are worth the value that makes their believers sometimes pay millions of baht for them, especially when there are many counterfeits. Looking at some of the most sought-after amulets, we learn why these magic amulets have an especially strong following among the Thai and even from visitors overseas. For the collectors of these amulets, there is this innate belief that they are made by powerful monks, who bless them and give the amulets magical powers, which are then transferred to the owner, thus giving …

Enhancing Urban Tourism In Bangkok: Challenges And Opportunities, Pechladda Pechpakdee

Asian Review

his research aims to investigate the interplay between urban development and urban tourism in Bangkok by identifying challenges, potentials, and opportunities for enhancing the city’s appeal. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study incorporates foreign tourist questionnaires, stakeholder interviews, and online open data analysis from prominent travel platforms. The findings reveal that, despite numerous clusters of tourist attractions and facilities, mobility infrastructure emerges as the most significant challenge for urban tourism and development in Bangkok. The study recom-mends concentrating on the development of primary attractions, secondary support facilities, and additional elements for conve-nient mobility to address these challenges. By acknowledging the …

The Stories Of Construction And Contention: The 14th Of October 1973 Memorial And The 2020 Student Movement In Thailand, Gil Turingan

Asian Review

This study argues that the construction of the 14th of October 1973 Memorial (Anuson Sathan Sip Si Tula) embodies the complicated Thai democracy and the democratic quest and struggles of the Thai people. By looking at the historical accounts and narratives of its construction and analyzing the symbols and meanings of the structure, this article reveals that from being a space for remembrance and a venue of commemoration of the October 1973 student revolution, this memorial transformed into a platform for democracy over time up to the emergence of the 2020 student movement. The protest activities, particularly the performative actions …

Introduction, Jirayudh Sinthuphan

Asian Review

This collection of articles in  this edition of the  Asian Review examines key socio-economic, political, and cultural dimensions across diverse regional and historical contexts. Each contribution sheds light on critical issues that influence human security, social policy, international relations, and cross-cultural business practices. Together, they provide valuable insights for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners interested in understanding the complexities of these domains.

Taliban 2.0 And Geopolitical Security Concerns In South Asia’S Neighbourhood, Masom Jan Masomy, Anup Shekhar Chakraborty

Asian Review

The emergence of Taliban 2.0 has raised significant geopolitical security concerns in the South Asia region, particularly in the neighbouring countries of India and Pakistan. The effectiveness of the peace deal between the United States and the Taliban appears to be limited, as it has not produced the intended outcomes as initially stated. The objective was to establish a period of uninterrupted peace across Afghanistan. The rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan was facilitated by a military coup, which subsequently led to the withdrawal of United States and NATO forces from the region. The government led by Ashraf Ghani, with …

A Causal Discovery Exploration Of Determinants Of Social Isolation, Barry Nuqoba, Kenneth Choo, Yi Wen Tan, William Tov

ROSA Research Briefs

In this report, we explore the potential causes of social isolation among older adults in Singapore using causal discovery. We found an inferred causal relationship between perceived helpfulness and social isolation, where older adults who perceived themselves as helpful were less likely to perceive themselves as socially isolated. Our study also found that perceived isolation and loneliness may be distinct concepts among older adults in Singapore, with loneliness being more likely to precede social isolation. Policy recommendations include promoting a sense of helpfulness through programs such as volunteering to reduce social isolation.

The Kathina Robe Offering Festival In Myanmar: Unveiling Social Dynamics And Cultural Identity, May Zin Nyunt

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This research paper examines the Kathina Robe Offering Festival in Myanmar, a major cultural and religious event that has plays an important role in building social cohesion, preserving cultural identity, and perpetuating Buddhist beliefs. Anchored in the Theravada Buddhist practices of generosity (dana), merit-making, and rejoicing, the Kathina Festival is a significant expression of communal and religious values in Myanmar's diverse society. This study aims to identify the multi-faceted role played by the Kathina festival in urban and regional perspectives, and it explains how it is used to create community cohesiveness in Yangon, or how local cultural nuances differ from …

Strategic Diplomacy: The Singapore Case, Country Report For The Project On ‘Strategic Diplomacy For 21st Century Defence And Statecraft’, Evelyn Goh, Wee-Kiat Lim

CCX Research

How does Singapore conduct strategic diplomacy despite being a small and constrained state? This report first identifies the major long-term drivers affecting Singapore’s security, both at the domestic level (rapidly ageing population, immigrant assimilation, and growing societal fault-lines) and at the international or systemic level (changing global order, power of technology, slow collective action on climate change). Then it analyses how Singapore strategists deal with two of their most prominent problem-sets: (i) positioning Singapore in relation to the US-China rivalry and the changing international order; and (ii) tackling climate change as a collective action problem. Both problem-sets illustrate how Singapore …

The Demand For Thai Language Skills In Thai-Chinese Economic And Trade Relations: A Case Study Of Yunnan Province, Yunheng Yuan

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study aims to analyze the demand for Thai language skills in economic and trade cooperation between Thailand and Yunnan Province, examine the current status of Thai language training programs in universities and colleges in Yunnan Province, and evaluate whether these programs adequately meet the demand for Thai language skills in the development of economic and trade cooperation. Through research methods like field observation, questionnaires, interviews, and document research, it was found that the economic and trade relations between Thailand and Yunnan Province continue to improve. Meanwhile, the demand for Thai language skills in Yunnan Province significantly increases. However, there …

Geopolitical Dynamics And Bilateral Relations: A Comparative Study Of China-Vietnam And China-Philippines Amid The South China Sea Tensions, Liuru Wei

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The South China Sea dispute is a geopolitical issue with complicated characteristics such as territorial dispute, resources contention, and involvement of regional powers and great powers. As disputing states, both Vietnam and the Philippines face maritime disputes with China, but they have different policies and bilateral relations with China. To explore the causes of these differences, this study develops a dual-factor analytical framework based on geopolitical theory and realist theory. Geopolitical theory emphasizes how geographical location, national interests, domestic politics, and historical factors shape state policy choices, while realist theory explains state behavior through the dynamics of power struggles, strategic …

Institutional Hedging Policies And Strategies Of Asean Under China-Us Rivalry, Rongheng Lu

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

With the intensification of the China-US rivalry, as a representative of the collective interests of Southeast Asian countries, ASEAN plays a central role in the regional architecture and it faces a series of structural risks and pressures, raising concerns about its ability to maintain centrality and regional stability. In recent years, scholars have noticed that the regional group presented the signs of hedging, especially the ASEAN. However, there are relatively few studies on ASEAN’s hedging, and current research on this topic remains incomplete, with a lack of consensus on its definition, motivations, and mechanisms. This study aims to analyse the …