Introduction: Diversity of Nation-building in East and Southeast Asia

The management of irregular migration in Thailand : Thainess, identity and citizenship

Abstract: This PhD analyses and investigates, from a historical perspective, the way in which Thailand has dealt with different groups of migrant populations, and how this reflects the current dichotomy between legal and illegal migrants in contemporary Thai policies regarding irregular migration management. It is argued that these policies reflect notions of `Thainess, ' citizenship, race and ethnicity, the question of identities and issues related to inclusion/exclusion of the migration populations within the structure of Thai society. This thesis also examines how Thailand's policies in irregular migration management reflect the economic and political interests of the government and employers. This thesis also focuses on the recent Greater Mekong subregional economic cooperation and integration policies, by investigating how these policies will resolve or intensify the problems concerning the management of migrant workers, as well as other problems relating to human rights violations, and various forms of discrimination towards the migrant population in Thailand. The concept and construction of `Thainess' is critically analysed with the purpose of throwing light on the changes in migration management policies, and the related regulations and practices. This analysis enables us to examine and capture how the dynamism and fluidity of `Thainess' varies through time, locality and economic status. It also explores how notions of Thai identity influence the ways in which policies on immigration and citizenship are constructed.

Islam, multiculturalism and nation-building in the post-truth age: the experience of indonesia

Abstract: Nation-building in postcolonial Asia, including Indonesia, was concerned most notably with drawing and imagining the boundaries of the nation. This process was and is an intriguing process. The notion of ‘natives’ and ‘non-natives’ is part of this complex process of nation-building. It is of significance to explore the role of Islam in nurturing nation-building and multiculturalism in Indonesia, since Islam is the religion of the majority of the population, and accordingly constitutes a dominant societal culture. A particular attention is given to the role of the Muhammadiyah and the Nahdlatul Ulama, the mainstream Islamic civil society organisations in the country. This paper examines the interplays between Islam, multiculturalism and nation-building in the present-day Indonesia, by looking specifically to the context of post-truth age which poses both challenges and opportunities to the country. I argue that the prospects for multiculturalism and nation-building in Indonesia are in some ways determined by the role and agency of Islamic civil society organisations in dealing with the new era which consequently alters the contours of religious authority.

People as the Roots (of the State): Democratic Elements in the Politics of Traditional Vietnamese Confucianism

Abstract: Abstract In this paper, the concept of “people as the roots” (of the state) is explored through its myriad expressions in Vietnamese history: the emphasis of Vietnamese feudal rulers on fulfilling the people’s will, loving the people, and ensuring peace for the people. From these historical examples, the authors argue that in the politics of Vietnamese traditional Confucianism, there has been the presence of democratic elements. Yet, they do not reflect a full-fledged democracy and should be seen only as signs of village democracy. This view holds an important implication for the process of democratization of modern Vietnamese society: while the concept of “people as the roots” is essential for a village democracy and is valuable for building a democracy, it does not necessarily mean a straightforward translation to a modern democracy. Here, the authors suggest that civil society will play an important role in making this transition smoother.

Engaging divided society in the nation-building process : the case of government communication in Malaysia

Abstract: This thesis explores how government engages with a divided society in the context of nation-building. The widely used yet loosely understood concept of ‘engagement’ in the context of government communication is the focus of this thesis. By using Malaysia as the case study, this research investigates how citizens are communicatively constructed in the context of Malaysia’s post-independence nation-building process. This study is significant because research on citizen engagement in Malaysia’s nation-building is limited and studies focusing on the concept of engagement in deeply divided societies are also scarce.Thematic analysis on all eleven national action plan (NAP) documents known as Malaysia Plan (1965-2016) was conducted to enable the pattern of similarities and differences in nation-building and government communication strategies to be identified over time. Semi-structured elite interviews with the elite actors in Malaysia’s federal government were conducted to understand the government’s articulation and operationalisation of engagement in the context of nation-building process.The key findings from the NAPs reveal that the nation-building in Malaysia takes in a form of national identity project. Adopting an elite instrumentalist approach, national unity becomes the focal communicative strategy in the construction of the national identity. The elite interviews on the other hand demonstrate that government actors tend to describe engagement using the notion of dialogic communication. While acknowledging the advancement in communication technologies, government actors emphasise that the face-to-face engagement initiatives with the citizens are of central importance in the nation-building process.This thesis contributes to the studies of government strategic communication in the context of a deeply divided society that has been characterised as "plural society" that is in a state of “stable tension” (Shamsul, 2009). It helps to develop a richer understanding and knowledge of Malaysia’s nation-building process and approach as a modern postcolonial nation.