Southeast Asia's Critical Crossroads

We have perhaps exhausted our interest in general histories of Southeast Asia. Anthony Reid's A History of Southeast Asia: Critical Crossroads covers over 2000 years of history in a little over 400 pages. Any attempt to cover the history of an entire region in a single volume will undoubtedly contain omissions and some simplifications, but this particular book is especially strong on the period from c.1500 onwards. Due to the author's specialization on the Age of Commerce and more recent eras in Southeast Asian history, the earlier period of "Indianized" kingdoms does not receive as much attention as some would like. Moreover, due to the vast terrain and types of post-colonial wars, conflicts, and Cold War confrontations, some of the intricate details of events like the Vietnam War and US intervention in Indochina do not receive the attention as US reader might expect. That said, this is a worthwhile read for those of us who, though somewhat familiar with the region, can find specific information and references to learn more about topics or themes of personal interest. As a crossroads vital for global exchange and what Reid sees as distinct patterns of gender relations, post-colonial nation-building, and economic development in the tropics, the Southeast Asian case offers some fruit avenues for comparison with other regions. Moreover, the history of the region's Chinese communities or the role of "weak" states in the precolonial area becomes an even more interesting development as anti-colonial leaders sought to create centralized states on territory carved by European powers. We hope to continue to pursue the history of this region with specific case studies that emphasize specific nations or areas.