Education is one of the key factors in strengthening the spirit of togetherness among countries in Southeast Asia as a nation community. It also underlies the Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies Gadjah Mada University to open wide opportunities for students from neighboring countries in Southeast Asia and other countries who want to exchange insights and share social-cultural experience.

On Monday (29/05/2017), CESASS received four students from Mahidol University, Thailand in a sharing session held at CESASS office. The four students are Nisanat Watthayu (Faculty of Liberal Arts), Yosita Jampafeung (Faculty of Liberal Arts), Thanatcha Somchaimongkol (Faculty of Liberal Arts) and Warachote Shinwasusin (Faculty of Engineering) who were the recipients of the Backpack Scholarship, a program devoted to explore the ASEAN region and visit campuses with the aim of enhancing global insight, developing sociability skills, and speaking for Thai students. These four students were also ambassadors of the Mahidol University International Relations (MURI) program which aims to support the international cooperation program of Mahidol University. read more

In the framework of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN, the Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) in cooperation with the Mission of Japan to ASEAN held an international seminar entitled “Strengthening Japan and ASEAN Relations on the Ocassion of the ASEAN 50th Anniversary”. This seminar was a manifestation of CESASS UGM’s commitment in developing studies on Southeast Asia and its relationship with other countries outside the region. In this activity, CESASS provided a special study on strengthening the relationship between Japan and ASEAN in social perspective. read more

The production of knowledge that occurs due to the social interaction of Indonesian students in Egypt, especially at Al-Azhar University, has a major role in the formation of a cosmopolitan identity. In this context, the daily social conditions of students in Egypt are more influential in the production of knowledge than the academic background. This was conveyed by Prof. Dr. Judith Schlehe, Professor of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Freiburg, in a discussion of SEA-Talks # 14 on Friday (07/04). The discussion entitled “Student Mobility & Knowledge Migration: Indonesian Azharites as Cultural Agents” was held at the office of Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) UGM. read more

Sawatdi Khrab!

My name is Jusuf, or commonly called Ucup. In this article, I will share my experience in joining the Liberal Arts of ASEAN Seeds Camp III, 9-14 January 2017 organized by Thammasat University in Rangsit, Thailand.

The event was held for six days in several cities, such as Rangsit, Ayuthaya, Kumphaeng Phet, and Sukhothai. There we visited the tourist areas and crafts. While in Sukhothai, we visited Ram Kamhaeng Museum, Sukhothai Historical Park, Sukhothai Airport, Haad Siew traditional weaving industry, and Sukhothai clay craft center. The schedule of activities was quite compact. Every day, the event started at 6:00 am and ended at 8:00 pm, except at a certain time when we were discharged early because we had to move on to the city. read more

It is undeniable that Southeast Asian films have their own position and have gained the spotlight of the world through various forms of appreciation. Films like “Kinatay” by Briliante Mendoza from the Philippines won the best director category at the Cannes Film Festival in 2009. In 2010, there was a movie titled “Uncle Boonmee” from Thailand made by director Apichatpong Weerasethakul who won the Palme d’Or in the same event . Last year 2016, the same award was awarded to Indonesian filmmakers. The work of Wregas Bhanuteja titled “Prenjak” became the best film on this prestigious film festival . The above facts serve as evidence of Southeast Asian cinema’s success in taking a position on the world cinema map. read more

SEA Movie in cooperation with Minikino held a screening with title “Indonesia Raja: Yogyakarta”. Indonesia Raja itself is a Minikono program in the form of interregional collaboration between regions / cities in Indonesia conducted periodically, 1 (one) time each year in the form of short film program exchange.This year there are several filmmakers from several cities participating in this activity and one of them is Yogyakarta.

The screening (16/08/2016) featured a compilation of four short films. Semalam Anak Kita Pulang (Adi Marsono / 2015), the film with duration of 12 minutes and 41 seconds became the first film of the Indonesian Raja movie series . Adi photographed the reality of life in the current sense that is no longer attractive to the younger generation of job seekers. Through the mother who missed her daughter, this film shows the anxiety of a mother who can not meet her child, even her only daughter went to another place (city) to try her fortune. Nilep (Wahyu Agung Prasetyo/ 2015), tried to play “good” and “bad” from the perspective of children, which leads to the notion that, presumably, these two perceptions are still childish in the context of Indonesian society. Sasi Takon (Wawan Sumarmo / 2015), a short film that tells the story of the impact of taboos that are violated and it causes unrest that arises from a child’s question to his mother. This film records the social conditions of society through different sides. The fourth film, Bawang Kembar (Gangsar / 2015) is an animation film with a duration of 18 minutes. The interesting thing about this film is its use of mythical figure of Javanese as well as moral values ​​and goodness that comes from even a figure who is considered evil . read more

One of the consequences of the diversity that exists in Southeast Asia is the emergence of many dynamic questions that never expires to be discussed. One of the questions we keep thinking about is, how does this region survive with hundreds of local beliefs and at the same time impose public policy on religious rules? Dr. Dicky Sofjan discussed the answer to this question in SEA Talks # 8, on Thursday afternoon,  (16/06/16). In his presentation, Dr. Dicky explained that the religious logic in society is often different from public policy. This can not be separated from the influence of the democratic system adopted by almost all countries in Southeast Asia. According to him, the application of democracy leads to unintended consequences, such as the phenomenon of misuse of the law, decentralization that causes inequality, as well as multi-interpretation of the beliefs of one group. On the other hand, the state also has great authority through the prevailing system. Just as Malaysia that applies Islam as a national religion and lists it in the constitution. This rule then legitimizes the expulsion of Ahmadiyah pilgrims in one of the mosques in Malaysia and also the rules that lead to minority discrimination. read more

How far do we know our neighbors? Neighbors are probably the closest people who actually keep the enigma and do not prejudice. But, cinema can help you uncover our nearest neighbor’s curtain: Malaysia. There are five movie options that can be your window to peek our neighbors Malaysia. Sepas made by Yasmin Ahmad reveals intricate interethnic relations in Malaysia. Meanwhile, Ho Yuhang through Rain Dog climbs the dark alley of ethnic Chinese conditions in Malaysia. Similarly, Songlap made by duo Effendy Mazlan and Fariza Azlina Isahak unmistakably reveals the other side of the sparkling capital of Kuala Lumpur. By contrast, Dain Iskandar Said via Bunohan brings you to recognize the face of Malaysia’s peripheral that is not less complicated. And, lastly, Mamat Khalid invites you to taste the taste of classic Malay cinema wrapped in ‘noir movie’ style in the Kala Bulan Mengambang which is loaded with contemporary Malaysian political allegories. So, watch the Malaysian cinema and seize the opportunity to recognize it. (Budi Irawanto) read more

When reading the literature on the history of Southeast Asia, we often take to the depiction of a character who has a position or power in a community context. The depiction of Southeast Asian history is then often associated (intentionally or unintentionally) strictly with economic or political aspects. This makes reading in the literature of Southeast Asian history often plastered with emphasis on facts, dates, names or personalities.

However, we will encounter different things when reading A History of Southeast Asia: Critical Crossroads. This is one of a professor’s works from Australian National University, Anthony Reid. This book at least provides a new offer to the study of the history of Southeast Asia. In this book, the reading of the history of Southeast Asia places more emphasis on the aspects of its context, processes, and historical intersections. read more

“Area studies programs were closed or merged into other units; on the eve of the September 11 attacks, half of the top political science departments in the United States did not have a Middle East studies program. ”

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The above sentence was written by Francis Fukuyama quoted by Budiawan as the opening of the SEA-Talks # 5 on Tuesday afternoon (29/01/2016) in Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies  (CESASS). It is a writing describing the recent fate of institutionalized regional studies in the United States. The view of the Crisis on the study of the area by Francis Fukuyama was also supported by the writings of Professor Robert Elson which stated that, 10 years ago, Asian Studies in Australia had a strong activity. But conditions have now declined, and it is believed that only Australia National University remains in this crisis. read more