Asia has been a global hub for the movement of people, materials, art, and ideas. It has gained prominence in recent decades and significantly influenced global changes.
The continent’s rapid ascent, exemplified by Southeast Asia’s political and economic rise, China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Japan’s automotive dominance, the K-pop phenomenon, and India’s IT revolution, underscores the critical need for knowledge production and dissemination that accurately reflects Asia’s global significance.
This was emphasized by Professor Hyaeweol Choi, President of the Association for Asian Studies (AAS), during the AAS in Asia conference at Universitas Gadjah Mada on Tuesday, Jul. 9, 2024.
Professor Choi noted that the Asian diaspora in North and South America, Oceania, and Asia has become increasingly prominent.
While Asia, Oceania, Africa, and Europe are crucial channels for global finance, art, education, and food, migrants from other continents also move to Asia, creating new dynamics.
“When we discuss this phenomenon, Asia is not a homogeneous entity; it is always diverse, complex, and fluid,” she stated.
However, Asia also faces various challenges, including a democracy crisis, the effects of neoliberalism, advancements in digital technology that are both beneficial and problematic, including artificial intelligence, and an escalating environmental crisis.
These historical events require innovative approaches to shed new light on Asia and the world. Global Asia is not a singular and integrated approach but agile and open.
“We want to explore interconnected ways in which Asia’s history, culture, and societies have shaped and been shaped by the world. This interconnectedness leads Asia into a productive dialogue with broader regional expertise and theoretical frameworks, such as modernity, colonialism, migration, the environment, and more. The concept of Global Asia values comparative perspectives,” she explained.
According to Professor Choi, linguistic diversity is essential in producing and disseminating knowledge about Asia.
Language is critical in everything we do, yet not all languages are valued equally. Recognizing the value of linguistic diversity is vital in rethinking the global landscape of knowledge about Asia and the importance of scientific communication.
“In-depth knowledge of a place, its people, and its country has become a fundamental strength of future Asian studies. Based on this foundational strength, we are at a strategic point to promote innovative approaches that illuminate historical and contemporary interconnectedness and dynamic pluralism,” Professor Choi said.
Iriana FDJ Ximenes, a PhD student at Flinders University and a speaker on the panel about the Dynamics of Labor Migration in Southeast Asia, expressed her excitement about attending the AAS in Asia conference.
She was particularly impressed by the traditional dance performed by Sastra Oebah at the opening ceremony.
“I was thrilled. I was very impressed by the dance. This was my first time seeing such a beautiful traditional cultural dance. Many disciplines are represented, and I’m interested to see what the speakers will present,” Ximenes said.
Megan Hewitt, a representative from the American Institute for Indonesian Studies (AIFIS), one of the organizers of AAS in Asia along with UGM and AAS, stated that they highly recommend UGM as the first Asian university to host AAS due to its strong reputation.
“AIFIS strongly recommends UGM for its excellent reputation. Foreign academics are also very welcomed in Yogyakarta,” Hewitt said.
Author: Gusti Grehenson
Photographer: Firsto