Evans brings Lao history vividly into focus, from ancient times through to the twenty-first century. He recounts the turmoil of independence from France and the war with Vietnam and its aftermath, up to present-day Laos and the country's hopes for its future. Evans traces the compelling story of the emergence of Laos as a modern nation.
East Timor at the Crossroads: Forging of a Nation provides a comprehensive and timely analysis of the critical moment in East Timor’s modern history as it moved toward independence. Peter Carey examines the political, social, and historical forces that shaped the territory’s struggle for self-determination, highlighting the impact of colonial rule, Indonesia’s occupation, and the role of …
After decades of political turmoil, war and economic hardship, Laos is now reshaping itself for the 21st century. As the newest member of the influential Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Lao and their culture are on the brink of rapid, unpredictable change. Cultures of the World: Laos explores the evolving Lao lifestyle and captures in vibrant color the customs and festivals…
Japan and Its World: Two Centuries of Change by Marius B. Jansen synthesizes decades of scholarship to explore how Japanese self-perception and its view of the Western world have evolved since the 18th century. Based on the Brown and Haley lectures delivered in 1975, the book traces key transformations in Japanese society, including challenges to the Confucian order, the quest for global wisdom…
Do you know in Brunei we used to have a festival called 'berjanawari'? Or that the Brunei word for great-great-great grandparents is the same as the action describing shaking your head? Or that Brunei's largest export used to be derived from mangrove trees? Or that 'Hua Hui' a gambling game was widely played in Brunei? Or the many facts that you have never known about Brunei? This is the se…
Handbook of Korea provides a concise yet comprehensive overview of the Republic of Korea, covering its history, geography, culture, politics, and socioeconomic development. Compiled by the Korean Overseas Information Service, the book serves as an authoritative reference that explains Korea’s rapid modernization, traditional heritage, governmental structure, demographic characteristics, and i…
ast Timor: Nationalism & Colonialism offers a compelling examination of the historical forces that shaped East Timor’s struggle for self-determination. Jill Jolliffe traces the roots of Timorese nationalism from the colonial period under Portugal through the geopolitical pressures that culminated in Indonesia’s invasion and subsequent occupation. Drawing on firsthand reporting, archival res…
The Enigma of Japanese Power explores the underlying mechanisms of Japan’s political, economic, and social system from a critical outsider’s perspective. Karel van Wolferen argues that despite its outward cohesion and stability, Japan’s power structure lacks a truly independent state in the Western sense: its institutions act as intermediaries rather than sovereign rulers. The book delves…
This book, published in conjunction with the 2014 touring exhibition, explores the profound interplay between materiality and spirituality in contemporary Korean art. Chung Joon‑Mo reframes the Korean monochrome (or “monotone”) tradition often labeled Dansaekhwa not simply as minimalist formalism, but as a deeply spiritual process rooted in repetition, restraint, and transformation. Artis…
The Enigma of Japanese Power explores the underlying mechanisms of Japan’s political, economic, and social system from a critical outsider’s perspective. Karel van Wolferen argues that despite its outward cohesion and stability, Japan’s power structure lacks a truly independent state in the Western sense: its institutions act as intermediaries rather than sovereign rulers. The book delves…