Contemporary Laos

Contemporary Laos PDF Author: Martin Stuart-Fox
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
ISBN: 9780312166762
Category : Laos
Languages : en
Pages : 345

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Contemporary Laos

Contemporary Laos PDF Author: Martin Stuart-Fox
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
ISBN: 9780312166762
Category : Laos
Languages : en
Pages : 345

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Book Description


Contemporary Lao Studies

Contemporary Lao Studies PDF Author: Carol J. Compton
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Culture
Languages : en
Pages : 354

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Society in Contemporary Laos

Society in Contemporary Laos PDF Author: Boike Rehbein
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1351859358
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 179

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Book Description
This book pursues the theoretical aim of shedding light on the old question raised by Max Weber about the relation between capitalism, (religious) ethos and society. The empirical study consists of a description of the social structures, their embodiment in the habitus and world-views in Laos against the background of a critical revision of Pierre Bourdieu’s sociology. To achieve these aims, the author develops a qualitative methodology as neither Weber nor Bourdieu explained how to empirically study habitus and ethos.

Society in Contemporary Laos

Society in Contemporary Laos PDF Author: Boike Rehbein
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 135185934X
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 154

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Book Description
Over the past decade, Laos’ exposure to global capitalism has resulted in extensive economic and social transformations. Precapitalist social structures both persist and are transformed into a particular configuration of classes. This entails increasing social inequality, a widening range of habitus and new forms of ethos. This book pursues the theoretical aim of shedding light on the old question raised by Max Weber about the relation between capitalism, ethos and society. The empirical study consists of a description of the social structures, their embodiment in the habitus and world-views in Laos against the background of a critical revision of Pierre Bourdieu’s sociology. To achieve these aims, the author develops a qualitative methodology as neither Weber nor Bourdieu explained how to empirically study habitus and ethos. The empirical material for the book was gathered over a period of more than five years and comprises several hundred life-course interviews in all sections of Lao society as well as a representative quantitative survey. The author argues that precapitalist social structures persist and continue to shape the social fabric of contemporary Laos. At the same time, they are transformed by global and local capitalism. The book shows how the hierarchies contained in each structure shape the habitus of the Lao population and how these in turn influence the development of a capitalist and a religious ethos. The argument makes use of Pierre Bourdieu’s sociology and adapts it to the setting of Laos by introducing new as well as indigenous concepts. While social structure, habitus and beliefs are subject to a capitalist transformation and unification, the newly emerging classes and milieus are not copies of Western forms but retain their local history. Filling a gap in the literature on Laos and offering new perspectives on core concepts such as habitus, class, lifestyle, work ethic and its religious underpinnings, this book will be of interest to academics in the fields of Sociology, Religious Studies, and Southeast Asian Studies.

New Laos, New Challenges

New Laos, New Challenges PDF Author: Jacqueline Butler-Diaz
Publisher: Program for Southeast Asian Studies Arizona State University
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 394

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Natural Potency and Political Power

Natural Potency and Political Power PDF Author: Sarinda Singh
Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
ISBN: 0824861221
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 209

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Book Description
Forests, as physical entities, have received considerable scholarly attention in political studies of Asia and beyond. Much less notice has been paid to the significance of forests as symbols that enable commentary on identity, aspirations, and authority. Natural Potency and Political Power, an innovative exploration of the social and political importance of forests in contemporary Laos, challenges common views of the rural countryside as isolated and disconnected from national social debates and politics under an authoritarian regime. It offers instead a novel understanding of local perspectives under authoritarianism, demonstrating that Lao people make implicit political statements in their commentary on forests and wildlife; and showing that, in addition to being vital material resources, forests (and their natural potency) are linked in the minds of many Lao to the social and political power of the state. Sarinda Singh explores the intertwining of symbolic and material concerns in local debates over conservation and development, the popularity of wildlife consumption, the particular importance of elephants, and forest loss and mismanagement. In doing so, she draws on ethnographic fieldwork around Vientiane, the capital, and Nakai, site of the contentious Nam Theun 2 hydropower project—places that are broadly reflective of the divide between urban prosperity and rural poverty. Nam Theun 2, supported by the World Bank, highlights the local, regional, and global dynamics that influence discussions of forest resources in Laos. Government officials, rural villagers, and foreign consultants all contribute to competing ideas about forests and wildlife. Singh advances research on forest politics by rethinking how ideas about nature influence social life. Her work refutes the tendency to see modern social life as independent of historical influences, and her attention to viewpoints both inside and outside the state prompts an understanding of authoritarian regimes as not only sources of repression, but also sites of negotiation, engagement, and debate about the legitimacy of social inequalities.

Culture and Customs of Laos

Culture and Customs of Laos PDF Author: Arne Kislenko
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN:
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 298

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Book Description
This all-encompassing volume offers a comprehensive look at the contemporary culture that defines this Southeast Asian country of Laos, examining everything from Buddhist traditions to Laotian cuisine. Coverage includes a brief history of the nation followed by in-depth narrative chapters on religion, literature, visual and performing arts, fashion, gender roles, everyday social customs, and more. Through illustrative descriptions of daily life, students will learn how traditional customs have shaped contemporary life in Laos today. Few other resources provide the same extensive coverage on current culture in Laos. Ideal for high school students as well as general readers, Culture and Customs of Laos is a must-have for all library shelves. The Southeast Asian country of Laos, one of the world's last-standing communist nations, has often been overshadowed in the international newsroom by its more dominant neighbors, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Among one of the most bombed countries in the world, one that suffered much during and after the Vietnam War, Laos has been struggling economically and politically for decades. In spite of these challenges, a rich, beautiful culture has survived in Laos. This exhaustive volume offers a comprehensive look at the contemporary culture that defines this seemingly quiet country, from Buddhism to Laotian cuisine. Coverage includes a brief history of the nation followed by in-depth narrative chapters on religion, literature, visual and performing arts, fashion, gender roles, everyday social customs, and more. Through illustrative descriptions of daily life, students will learn how traditional customs have shaped contemporary life in Laos today. Few other resources provide the same extensive coverage on current culture in Laos. Ideal for high school students as well as general readers, Culture and Customs of Laos is a must-have for all library shelves.

Globalization, Culture and Society in Laos

Globalization, Culture and Society in Laos PDF Author: Boike Rehbein
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134092296
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 371

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Book Description
Incorporating original fieldwork carried out over a period of more than ten years, combined with innovative theoretical argument, Globalization, Culture and Society in Laos presents one of the first sociological investigations into modern Laos. Boike Rehbein gives a fascinating overview of contemporary Lao culture and society, whilst linking local and national phenomena to tendencies of globalization and the history of the region. The book introduces a new theoretical approach based on the sociology of Pierre Bourdieu, applying this sociology to the interpretation of Lao history. It also examines various aspects of Lao culture and society, including economics, politics, language, higher education, music, and religion. Rehbein concludes by attempting to synthesize these cultural elements with the impact of globalization to give a synopsis of contemporary Lao society. Written by an expert in Lao history and culture, familiar with the language and the people, this book will be of huge interest to students and scholars of Laos, Southeast Asia, social theory and globalization.

Contemporary Laos

Contemporary Laos PDF Author: Martin Stuart-Fox
Publisher: St. Lucia, Qld. : University of Queenland Press
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 376

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Special Focus

Special Focus PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Globalization
Languages : en
Pages : 179

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Book Description
"This special issue seeks to explore various dimensions of social differentiation in Laos, namely politics, religion, economics, ethnicity, and history. The guiding question is how contemporary Lao society develops within the framework of the conflicting tendencies of globalizaiton, nationalism, capitalism and traditionalism. The papers collected in the volume tackle different aspects of the question that complement each other to form the outline of a comprehensive picture and are mainly based on original, anthropological fieldwork."--Introduction, p. [169].