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Routledge Handbook of Southeast Asian Development

This Handbook traces the uneven experiences that have accompanied development in Southeast Asia.
Michael Boyland, Ha Nguyen, Bernadette P. Resurrección, Albert Salamanca, Frank Thomalla / Published on 16 January 2018
The region is often considered to be a development success story; however, it is increasingly recognized that growth underpinning this development has been accompanied by patterns of inequality, violence, environmental degradation and cultural loss. In 30 chapters, written by established and emerging experts of the region, the Handbook examines development encounters through four thematic sections:

• Approaching Southeast Asian development,

• Institutions and economies of development,

• People and development and

• Environment and development.

The authors draw from national or sub-national case studies to consider regional scale processes of development – tracing the uneven distribution of costs, risks and benefits. Core themes include the ongoing neoliberalization of development, issues of social and environmental justice and questions of agency and empowerment.

This important reference work provides rich insights into the diverse impacts of current patterns of development and in doing so raises questions and challenges for realizing more equitable alternatives. It will be of value to students and scholars of Asian Studies, Development Studies, Human Geography, Political Ecology and Asian Politics.

SEI authors featured in the handbook are:

Ch 4 Aggregate trends, particular stories: tracking and explaining evolving rural livelihoods in Southeast Asia Jonathan Rigg and Albert Salamanca. The chapter explores how rural livelihoods have changed not just in terms of what they deliver, but also how and where rural livelihoods are sustained.

Ch 21 A feminist political ecology prism on development and change in Southeast Asia Bernadette P. Resurrección and Ha Nguyen.

Using a feminist political ecology (FPE) lens, this chapter discusses people’s experiences of two related but often treated as diverse drivers of development and change in Southeast Asia today: large-scale development investments, and climate change and disasters.

Ch 27 Disasters and development in Southeast Asia: Towards equitable resilience and sustainability Frank Thomalla, Michael Boyland and Emma Calgaro.

This chapter provides a review of the historical trends and impact of disasters and the status of disaster risk in Southeast Asia. It discusses the importance of reducing risk by tackling the underlying drivers of exposure and vulnerability generated inside development. 

Buy the book (external link)

SEI authors

Michael Boyland
Ha Nguyen
Bernadette P. Resurrección
Albert Salamanca
Albert Salamanca

Senior Research Fellow

SEI Asia

Profile picture of Frank Thomalla
Frank Thomalla

SEI Affiliated Researcher

SEI Asia

Topics and subtopics
Governance : Sustainable Development Goals
Related centres
SEI Asia
Regions
Southeast Asia

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