Bachelor
2026/2027
Modern History of Southeast Asia
Type:
Elective course (HSE University and Kyung Hee University Double Degree Programme in Economics and Politics in Asia)
Delivered by:
Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs
When:
2 year, 1-3 module
Open to:
students of one campus
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
4
Contact hours:
84
Course Syllabus
Abstract
This course provides a general introduction to the history of Southeast Asia from the 17th century to the present era, with a focus on decolonization and modernization in the contemporary ASEAN countries. This course examines the key features of these countries’ development from the point of view of statehood formation, nation building and external processes of colonial intervention and subsequent regional self-identity construction.Emphasis is also placed on a comprehensive study of Southeast Asian societies as part of these complicated development processes. It examines how they responded to the deep cultural, social and economic challenges of the 19th and 20th centuries and how they sought to adapt their foreign and domestic policies to world processes after gaining independence. The course should help the students to prepare for higher level courses focusing on contemporary Southeast Asia.
Learning Objectives
- – Students gain a working knowledge of the contemporary Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia · Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam history. This knowledge will serve both as a foundation for further study and as a tool for more effectively understanding of today's world.
- – Students learn to think critically and comparatively about historical events in modern Southeast Asia history. They are able to understand and identify historical discourse, narrative, themes, causes, and effects.
- – Students are able to use their knowledge and critical thinking abilities to analytically consider research articles, published works, and scholarly monographs on topics related to contemporary Southeast Asian history.
- – Students acquire a perspective on history and an understanding of social and political factors underlying the contemporary development of Southeast Asian nations.
- – Students will acquire knowledge about the role of an interdisciplinary approach at the intersection of history, anthropology, sociology, international relations and political sciences in the study of Southeast Asia.
- – Students think and speak critically about primary and secondary historical sources by examining diverse interpretations of past events and ideas in their historical contexts.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- – Students will be able to analyze the role and place of Southeast Asian in the pre-colonial period, its position in the global trading system along the Indian Ocean and through China.
- – Students will be able to analyze the relationship of Southeast Asian polities with Ancient China and Ancient India.
- – Students will be able to explore the early colonial policies of the European powers and their influence on the development of the polities of Southeast Asia.
- – Students will be able to analyze in detail the history of colonial wars and resistance to colonization in Southeast Asia.
- – Students will be able to determine the role of the religious factor in the development of Southeast Asia during the colonial period, considering religion as a factor in the formation of local and regional identities, including within the framework of colonial resistance.
- – Students will be able to discuss colonial economic policies and their impact on social processes in Southeast Asia traditional communities.
- – Students will be able to analyze the syncretism of socio-political thought in Southeast Asia and evaluate its role in the formation of national liberation movements in these countries.
- – Students will be able to analyze the background of the Indonesian national liberation struggle and the characteristics of the independence movement.
- – Students will be able to analyze Indonesia's domestic and foreign policy under President Sukarno in the post-independence and guided democracy eras.
- – Students will be able to analyze the politics, diplomacy, economy and social development of Indonesia under President Suharto.
- – Students will be able to analyze the politics, diplomacy, economy and social development of Indonesia after the Reformation period and into the modern era.
- – Students will be able to discuss the establishment of the independence of Malaysia and Singapore, the issues of territorial definition between Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and later with Brunei.
- – Students will be able to analyze the history and strategies of modernization, economic and political development of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.
- – Students will be able to analyze the relationship between Thailand and European colonial powers and explore why Thailand was the only country to avoid colonization by diplomacy means.
- – Students will be able to assess the struggle for independence in the countries of Indochina and the impact of the Indochinese wars on the development of nations in this region.
- – Students will be able to analyze the history of the independence of Timor-Leste and the conflict resolution process with Indonesia.
- – Students will be able to study and analyze the history of the Vietnam War and its place in the cold war and great power competition.
- – Students will be able to review and discuss the role and place of ASEAN in shaping the regional structure of interstate relations, as well as study the regional integration history as a whole.
- – Students will be able to analyze the resistance of ASEAN countries to the processes of the Cold War and study the history of the containment mechanisms for he great powers interest.
- – Students will be able to analyze the Khmer Rouge period and the impact of the civil war in Cambodia on the regional security and development architecture.
- – Students will be able to discuss the issue of Westernization in contemporary Southeast Asian societies.
- – Students will be able to discuss the history of democracy ideational concept in the region and the evolution of its perception by the local elites.
- – Students will be able to analyze the history of traditional societies in Southeast Asia and their relationship with authorities and modernization processes today.
- – Students will be ready to analyze the current state of affairs in Southeast Asia, gain an understanding of the historical, political, economic and social processes in the region.
- – Students will be able to analyze the modern problems of South-East Asia: problems of ethnic minorities, economic problems and ways to overcome these problems.
Course Contents
- Week 1.
- Week 2.
- Week 3.
- Week 4.
- Week 5.
- Week 6.
- Week 12
- Week 8 and week 9.
- Week 10.
- Week 11.
- Week 13.
- Week 14.
- Week 15.
- Week 16.
- Week 17.
- Week 18.
- Week 19.
- Week 20.
- Week 21.
- 20. Religious policy of the ASEAN countries and the influence of religious institutions on state policy formation
- Communism and left-wing ideologies in Southeast Asia.
- 22. Chinese Diaspora and Overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia
- Asian financial crisis of 1997-1998
- Globalization and Westernization in Southeast Asia
- General agenda and issues across Southeast Asia
- Democracy evolution in Southeast Asia
- Asian tigers’ cooperation
- Russia as an actor in Southeast Asia
- Historical retrospective of interaction between the regional powers and China
- Modern influence of Southeast Asia on world historical developments
Assessment Elements
- Attendance
- Midterm Exam
- Essay
- Final ExamOral exam, there are two questions, 10 minutes to prepare, 10 minutes to answer. It is forbidden to use any materials.
- Class Participationtests 5-10 questions after each theme 50%+additional points for activity 50%, at least 5 answers from each student for the whole course. If the student has gained more assessments for activity, then 5 best are evaluated
Interim Assessment
- 2026/2027 1st module0.5 * Class Participation + 0.5 * Midterm Exam
- 2026/2027 3rd module0.25 * Essay + 0.15 * Attendance + 0.25 * Class Participation + 0.35 * Final Exam
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Modern South Asia : history, culture, political economy, Bose, S., 2011
- Газиева И.А., Зарипова Л.Р. - Политические, экономические и культурные повороты в прошлом, настоящем и будущем Южной и Юго-Восточной Азии - 978-5-7281-3579-1 - Российский государственный гуманитарный университет - 2025 - https://znanium.ru/catalog/document?id=482899 - 482899 - ZNANIUM
- Шувалов И.И., Хабриева Т.Я., Капустин А.Я. и др. - АСЕАН - движущая сила региональной интеграции в Азии - 978-5-16-012641-8 - НИЦ ИНФРА-М - 2019 - https://znanium.ru/catalog/document?id=327908 - 327908 - ZNANIUM
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- История стран Азии и Африки (Новое время) : учебно-методическое пособие / А. М. Родригес-Фернандес, А. С. Дербенев, Н. Н. Лисицына, В. А. Никитюк. — Москва : МПГУ, 2018. — 96 с. — ISBN 978-5-4263-0600-4. — Текст : электронный // Лань : электронно-библиотечная система. — URL: https://e.lanbook.com/book/112551 (дата обращения: 00.00.0000). — Режим доступа: для авториз. пользователей.