How do we understand culture and power in Buddhist Southeast Asian societies? What are the enduring arrangements of power and belief that distinguish these societies, and how have these arrangements been changed by processes of globalization, modernization and development? To help answer these questions, this course examines Buddhist Southeast Asia from the perspective of its peoples. We will discuss a range of themes, such as religion, the role of women, supernaturalism, politics, health, and violence. Moreover, we will read scholarship in history, religious studies, and anthropology in order to introduce students to debates on culture and power in Southeast Asia, particularly in the context of the study of religion, with the aim of inculcating comparative and critical reflections on cultural formations in the region.

Continuous Assessment: 100%