Capitalism, Conflict and Contradiction: Southeast Asia's Development and the Reorganisation of Production. Issue 2 (15th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Carroll, Toby
• Is Part Of: Journal of contemporary Asia. Volume 51:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 207
• Page End: 232
• Publication Date: 2021-03-15
• Subjects: Southeast Asia -- development -- reorganisation of production -- industrialisation -- means of production; Asia -- Periodicals; 915.005
• DOI: 10.1080/00472336.2020.1734227
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0047-2336

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This article locates the political economy of Southeast Asia's highly uneven and constrained development within the context of capitalism generally and, in particular, capitalism in its most recent "world market" stage. It concentrates upon development in a classically modernist sense, beyond narrow contemporary methodologically nationalist delimitations situated around growth, governance and official development assistance. It is argued that Southeast Asian development (much like the "developing world" generally) must be understood, first and foremost, in relation to key historical dynamics beyond the nation-state, including colonialism, superpower relations and, crucially, perpetually shifting relations of production. Importantly, each of these facets has played an important role in conditioning opportunities for social forces to realise their interests.