Asian Studies: Contemporary South-East Asia - Political Developments and Societal Issues

This course gives you a closer look at political and social change in Southeast Asia today. You’ll explore how democracy, authoritarianism, and populism are developing, and how digital media, civil society, and social movements are shaping society in the region.

The course also looks at urgent issues like human rights, environmental challenges, and land rights. You’ll learn how these topics are connected and how they affect both local communities and the world at large.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to explain key developments in the region, understand how different issues influence each other, and think critically about Southeast Asia in a global context. This course is a great choice if you want to better understand Southeast Asia and are interested in working in areas such as international development, global studies, journalism, or future research. 

Course syllabus

The syllabus contains the formal and legal details of the entire course. It’s a legal document outlining the course structure and requirements, intended mainly for administrative use.

Course literature

The course literature listed may be updated up to eight weeks before the course begins.

The course is fully online, so you can study from anywhere. To take part in the course, all you need is a computer and internet access. Everything else you’ll need – from course materials to communication with teachers and fellow students – is available on Canvas, a digital platform that helps you stay organised and engaged throughout the course.

You'll watch recorded lectures that introduce key themes and concepts, and take part in digital seminars and discussions via the learning platform Canvas. There, you can exchange ideas with others and deepen your understanding. Film screenings are also included to help connect course content with real-world examples.

You are expected to engage actively with the course materials and discussions. The assessment includes writing a seminar paper and completing an exam. These tasks are designed to strengthen your skills in research, critical thinking, and written analysis, essential tools for studying political and social issues. 

Prerequisites

General entry requirements and at least 30 higher education credits. Oral and written proficiency in English equivalent to English 6 from Swedish upper secondary school is a requirement. A general exemption from the requirement of proficiency in Swedish is applied.

Selection criteria

Seats are allocated according to the following: The general average (GPA) of your higher secondary school leaving certificate: 34 %, The Swedish national university aptitude test: 34 %, number of previous ECTS at the application deadline (up to 165): 32 %.

Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA citizens

Citizens of countries outside:

• The European Union (EU)
• The European Economic Area (EEA) and
• Switzerland

are required to pay tuition fees. You pay an instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each
semester.

Tuition fees, payments and exemptions

Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 15,625
First payment: SEK 15,625

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Note that you may also need to pay an application fee, or provide proof of exemption.

Application fee

No tuition fees for citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland

There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.