Ruling Class, Intellectuals, Tradition and Reforms in Southeast Asia

Feudalism and colonialism have deeply influenced Southeast Asian societies and their worldview. Their legacies and continuities continue to colour their social, political, economic and cultural development even in the post-independent era. This compilation of essays looks at the existential conditions of societies and their roots in the feudal and colonial past, and the vested interests behind them. The ideas and values of the ruling class as reflected in the social document or historical text is most revealing of the nature and impact of their authoritarian ethics and oppressive class ideologies. Such oppression, however, did not go unchallenged. Throughout centuries, ideas between authoritarian ethics and humanistic values have always been in competition.

This contestation ensued mainly within the various traditions of Southeast Asia, between intellectuals as reformers and the dominant feudal and colonial ruling class. These essays explore these contesting ideas through analysis of the writings of varied thinkers like Ibn Khaldun, José Rizal, Pramoedya Ananta Toer, to name some, as well as through the films of P. Ramlee. Taken as a whole, this collection presents a compelling look at the production of knowledge, and offers a way forward in thinking about these issues.

About the Author
Shaharuddin Maaruf was born in 1951 in Kuala Lumpur. He studied in MCKK, Kuala Kangsar for his secondary education from 1963-1969 and was awarded a Bachelor of Social Science in 1973 from USM, Penang in anthropology and political science. He then served as a PTD officer (Malaysian Administrative and Diplomatic Service) and taught for several years in the Anthropology Department of UKM (National University of Malaysia), Bangi before going on to pursue his postgraduate studies, both a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy, at the University of Singapore (SU) and National University of Singapore (NUS), under the supervision of the eminent scholar and sociologist Syed Hussein Alatas. He was awarded an M.A. in 1980 and a PhD in 1986. After completing his graduate studies, Shaharuddin taught in the Malay Studies Department, NUS from 1987-2007, and headed the department from 1997-2007. He then served in the Akademi Pengajian Melayu (Malay Studies Academy) of University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, as a Senior Research Fellow between 2009-2015.

Shaharuddin’s published books include Concept of a Hero in Malay Society; Malay Ideas on Development: From Feudal Lord to Capitalist; and Melayu Aib dan Ghaib. Besides publishing academic articles, he contributed a fortnightly column called “Nota Seorang Penulis” in Singapore’s daily newspaper, Berita Harian, for two years

Presently, he is active as an independent researcher and writer.