This book focuses on the different challenges and opportunities for social transformation in India, Myanmar and Thailand, by centering communities and individuals as the main drivers of change. In doing so, it includes discussions on a wide array of issues including women's empowerment and political participation, ethno-religious tensions, plurilingualism, education reform, community-based healthcare, climate change, disaster management, ecological systems, and vulnerability reduction.

Two core foundations are introduced for ensuring broader transformations. The first is the academic diplomacy project a framework for an engaged academic enquiry focusing on causative, curative, transformative, and promotive factors. The second is a community driven collective struggle that serves as a grassroots possibility to facilitate positive social transformation by using locally available resources and enabling the participation of the resident population.

As a whole, the book conveys the importance of a diversification of engagement at the grassroots level to strengthen the capacity of individuals as decisive stakeholders, where the process of social transformation makes communities more interconnected, interdependent, multicultural and vital in building an inclusive society.

Offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding social transformations in Southeast Asia societies Centers communities and individuals as the source and main drivers of change Argues that promoting political participation is urgently needed to address widespread divisions Compiles academic diplomacy-tested action research driven chapters organised under different themes

Autorentext

Chosein Yamahata is a Professor at the Graduate School of Policy Studies, Aichi Gakuin University, Japan. He is the coordinator of the Academic Diplomacy Project and co-edited Rights and Security in India, Myanmar and Thailand (2020). Dr. Yamahata is also a Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Mass Communication at Chiang Mai University, Thailand.

Donald M. Seekins is an Emeritus Professor of Southeast Asian Studies at Meio University, Japan. He is the author of Burma and Japan since 1940 (2007); State and Society in Modern Rangoon (2011) and The Historical Dictionary of Burma (2017). Dr. Seekins is co-founder of Burma Review and Challenges International Forum (BRACIF) and the Aunfair-Euro Roundtable (EAR).

Makiko Takeda is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Policy Studies, Aichi Gakuin University, Japan. She is the convener of the Asian University Network Forum on Advances in Research (AUNFAIR) and Thailand-India-Japan Conclave (TIJC). Dr. Takeda is the author of Women, Children and Social Transformation in Myanmar (2020).

Inhalt

Part I Fairness, Equality and Freedom.- Chapter 1: Forces of Change: Social Transformation from the Lens of Academic Diplomacy.- Chapter 2: Justice and Fairness: Reflections from a Short Look at the Philosophy of John Rawls.- Chapter 3: Building Equality and Social Cohesion in Myanmar: Plurilingualism as a Platform for Establishing Peace Culture.- Chapter 4- The Origin of Minority Problem: Thailand.- Chapter 5: Prees Freedom Under the Government of Aung San Suu Kyi: The First 5 Years.- Part II Communication, Participation and Challenges.- Chapter 6: Climate Change Communication in Southeast Asia from Journalist Perspective in the Context of Thailand: Raising Awareness by Environment Communication.- Chapter 7: Urban Ecological Approach for Climate Change Adaptation towards Sustainable Urban Planning and Development: An Indian Perspective.- Chapter 8: Urban Dynamics, Socio-Economic Transformation and Built Heritage in a Historic Town of India: An Appraisal.- Chapter 9: Women in Myanmar: Marginalisation, Peace building and Participation.- Chapter 10: Public Health Reform and Transition in Burma/Myanmar.- Chapter 11: Challenges and Opportunities for Educational Reform: Under the New Myanmar Government.- Chapter 12: Local Transformation in Chiang Rai: The Roles of Administrative Organization in Management and Preparedness for Earthquake.- Chapter 13: Impact of Institutions on the Performance of Firms in India: Towards Policy Implications for MSMEs from Empirical Evidence.- Part III Livelihoods, Social Cohesion and Planning.- Chapter 14: Drugs, Livelihoods, and the Limits of Social Transformation in a Highland Periphery of Myanmar.- Chapter 15: Urban Transformation and Applied Planning Initiatives in Indian Cities.- Chapter 16: Rehabilitative Planning Strategy for Transformative Changes of Vulnerable Communities in Indian Sundarban.- Chapter 17: Towards Social Transformation in Thailand: Orwellian Struggles and 'Digital' Human Rights under the Sociotechnical Thai Internet Panopticon.- Chapter 18: Reinforcing Social Cohesion in Myanmar's Borderlands: Strength, Solidarity and Sustainability of Ethnic Women Organisations.- Chapter 19: Multicultural Transformation and Anti-Multicultural Injustice: Critical Histories in the Muslim-Dominated Deep South of Thailand.- Chapter 20: Social Transformation and the Unchanging Violent Conflict in the Deep South of Thailand.- Chapter 21: Disputed Pillars at the Margin of History: The Manipur-Myanmar Boundary and India's Strategic Silence.- Chapter 22: Naypyidaw: An Elite Vision for Burma's Future?.- Chapter 23: Driving Transformation Forward.