Publication
'Contemporary Arts in and for Civil Society' in 'Routledge Handbook of Civil and Uncivil Society in Southeast Asia'
'The Routledge Handbook of Civil and Uncivil Society in Southeast Asia' explores the nature and implications of civil society across the region, engaging systematically with both theoretical approaches and empirical nuance for a systematic, comparative, and informative approach.
- Author
- Minna Valjakka, edited By Eva Hansson, Meredith L. Weiss
- Date
- 21 February 2023
The handbook actively analyses the varying definitions of civil society, critiquing the inconsistent scrutiny of this sphere over time. It brings forth the need to reconsider civil society development in today’s Southeast Asia, including activist organisations' and platforms' composition, claims, resources, and potential to effect sociopolitical change.
Structured in five parts, the volume includes chapters written by an international set of experts analysing topics relating to civil society:
- Spaces and platforms
- Place within politics
- Resources and tactics
- Identity formation and claims
- Advocacy
The handbook highlights the importance of civil society as a domain for political engagement outside the state and parties, across Southeast Asia, as well as the prevalence and weight of 'uncivil' dimensions. It offers a well-informed and comprehensive analysis of the topic and is an indispensable reference work for students and researchers in the fields of Asian Studies, Asian Politics, Southeast Asian Politics and Comparative Politics.
Minna Valjakka about het paper Contemporary Arts in and for Civil Society: "This study is one of the recent outcomes of my long-term interdisciplinary research on the current possibilities of artistic practices to contribute to civil society formation within East and Southeast Asia. Through a variety of case-studies emerging in and outside of the generally accepted contemporary art scenes and methods, I aim to unravel the current complexities, aims, and possibilities of the artists based in Myanmar and Singapore. I’m utterly honoured that my paper is included in the Routledge Handbook of Civil and Uncivil Society in Southeast Asia, edited by Eva Hansson and Meredith L. Weiss. The handbook highlights the importance of civil society as a domain for political engagement outside the state and parties. It offers a well-informed and comprehensive analysis of the topic.