Rudyard Kipling wrote "The Road to Mandalay" in 1892 when Burma was a British colony and Queen Victoria was the Empress of India. In the poem, Mandalay is a city some 500 miles along the Irrawaddy River from the capital, Rangoon. British troops stationed in Burma were transported on the river by paddle steamers. The picture painted of…

Examining Malcolm Browne's photograph of the burning monk as well as appropriations of it by the Ministers' Vietnam Committee, I argue that self-immolation is a powerful rhetorical act that utilizes self-inflicted violence as a means of performing a visual embodiment of violence done by an "other." I assert that the power and resonance…

This article looks at the evolution of the social studies curricula in Pakistan, which are of critical importance in shaping the outlook of many young Pakistanis, who are affected by this polarised discourse. The author argues that this trend of polarisation springing from dynamics of education also effectively contributes to a widening social…

This article proposes the concept of an extractive regime to understand Indonesia's developmental trajectory from 1966 to 1998. The concept contributes to world-systems, globalization, and commodity-based approaches to understanding peripheral development. An extractive regime is defined by its reliance on extraction of multiple natural resources…

Historians work in a discipline with few inherent concepts and are obliged to draw upon many fields in recreating the past. Yet authors of most school history texts, state and national standards and curriculum materials seldom incorporate economic analysis in their work. Just look at state standards that include Adam Smith and John Locke but draw…

In the nearly 30 years since Edward Said published the hugely influential Orientalism, his indictment of racism and imperialism in Western scholarship on the Orient has had its share of plaudits and condemnations. Now Robert Irwin, the Middle East editor of The Times Literary Supplement, has reignited the controversy with his broadside against the…

Describes the work of E. Warren Clark, a lay missionary officially employed by the Japanese government as a university teacher during the 1870s. Provides excerpts from Clark's book, "Life and Adventure in Japan" (1878), written after his return. (JDH)

Uses Kenneth Burke's "comic frame" to interpret and assess Gandhi's leadership of the Indian civil rights movement and to maintain the relevance and usefulness of the civil disobedience to other movements. (JD)

Reviews the development of the oral history tradition in China. Identifies a number of problems that presently exist in the use of oral history in this country. (RKM)

Recommends using fictional works about modern Asian and African history as supplementary reading in history courses to enhance student understanding of culture. Provides an annotated list of novels that have been used successfully in these courses. Outlines useful strategies for using fiction in college level history courses. (BSR)

Discusses how the Chinese have recorded their history by dynasties, the length of time any one imperial clan could retain its hold on the Dragon Throne. Dynastic histories were used to instruct rulers in the ways ethical problems of government had been dealt with in the past. (AM)

This publication is a viewer's guide for a 1979 CBS summer television series on Asia. It is also designed to be used independently of the TV series. The TV series included a mixture of lectures and interviews, complemented by examples of Asian art, music, and dance. The guide supplements each of the thirty programs in the series with maps,…

Discusses the development of Pilipino American studies based on the author's personal teaching experiences at UCLA. Recommends content for a comprehensive course and emphasizes the need for sensitive teachers. (LHW)

Discusses Linda Sue Park, the 2002 Newbery Medal winner, and includes excerpts of an interview with her. Notes that her diverse writing career began at an early age. Discusses writing Korean "historicals" and researching her other books. Identifies mentors as an important characteristic of both her life and work. (PM)

Presents a broad overview of instruction about Asia in European schools. Identifies problems that limit the amount and quality of instruction, including the limitations of teachers, unchanging course syllabi, and inadequate textbooks. Provides suggestions for improving instruction. (JDH)