CULTURAL TRADITIONS IN 'ENDANGERED' MINORITIES IN SOUTH AND
SOUTHEAST ASIA

This collaborative research programme continues a comparative
study of the cultural traditions of minority groups and their
relations with the cultural traditions of their dominant
neighbours in South and Southeast Asia. The programme has
undergone many changes and reformulations of the original
research programme as the work of the researchers proceeds.
Also, the programme director has changed twice. Researchers
carry out in-depth investigations of individual case societies
in order to develop comparative understandings. The focus now
is also on intergroup relations and social change rather than
on the study of single isolated societies. This programme thus
has much in common with the programme on 'Changing
Lifestyles...' except that the angle of focus is not on
global/western influences in Asian contexts, but rather takes
a more localized view of the relationship between dominant
cultures and minority cultures within Asia. It does not deny
'global flows' and influences but instead looks at how they
are refracted in local power relations.

By Deborah Tooker

Some of the theoretical concerns are similar, however. Thus,
cultural 'traditions' are not viewed as timeless unchanging
entities, but rather as sets of social practices and
representations whose continuities need to be explained as
much as their discontinuities. Also, the concept of
'endangerment' has been refined to mean not the passive dying
out of traditions of vulnerable minority groups, but as the
active resistance and response of minority groups to the
various 'dangers' presented to them in their relations with 
dominant outside groups. These responses are creative and
diverse, depending on local contexts. Indeed, the creation of
'minority' status itself needs to be addressed.
Researchers work on their individual projects and engage in
comparative interchange. It is hoped that a set of comparative
concepts will emerge for the understanding of the interactions
of cultural traditions and the role of minority status in
societies in this area.
Some of the areas of focus are:

1. spatial practices and power relations (Tooker, Chou,
Klokke, Vischer)
2. the role of exchange and the effect of the introduction of
a monetary economy on majority/minority relations (Chou)
3. the process of 'localization' or the local restructuring of
external cultural traditions (Klokke, Tooker)
4. diversity and commonalities in processes of
hierarchicalization (Vischer, Chou, Tooker)
5. alternative claims to authenticity or 'origin'ality and
centrality (Vischer, Tooker, Chou).

There are three anthropologists (Chou, Tooker, Vischer) and
one art historian (Klokke). Three work exclusively in
Southeast Asia (Chou, Tooker, Vischer) and one comparatively
between South Asia and Southeast Asia (Klokke). Within
Southeast Asia, there is one mainland specialist (Tooker: Akha
of Thailand) and three insular specialists (Chou: sea nomads
of Indonesia; Klokke: ancient architecture of Indonesia; and
Vischer: two different regions in Indonesia: Palu'e (Flores
region), and Sumatra.