2nd Asia Pacific Research International Conference

The discourse of nations achieving political independence and the characterization of the years that followed as the "postcolonial" period has long been a mainstay of the academic agenda in studies of Southeast Asia, particularly in the disciplines of history, political science, economics, literature and language, anthropology, and sociology. The road to independence was often long and arduous. The years following the attainment of national sovereignty were equally troublesome and problematic with seemingly insurmountable challenges. Whilst Malaysia faced the sensitive issue of managing race relations, the Philippines struggled with a leftist insurgency, and Thailand's see-saw with weak civilian governments and military juntas. Meanwhile Myanmar was secluded under a military dictatorship, and Cambodia's nightmare following the establishment of a genocidal regime. The ups and downs of nation-building, the maintenance of political stability and economic sustainability are but some of the major issues that faced post-independent nation-states of Southeast Asia.

Further Information

The Conference Secretariat

The Second International Conference (2APRU)

Asia-Pacific Research Unit (APRU)

School of Humanities,

Universiti Sains Malaysia

11800 Penang

Malaysia

Tel: 604 6533888 Ext. 3377; Fax: 604 6563707

E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Website: http://www.hum.usm.my/apru.asp