• SUVANNABHUMI
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.133-153
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• 2015

The Rakhine (Arakanese) from present-day Rakhine State (Arakan) in Western Myanmar and the Marma from the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Southeast Bangladesh originated from the same region, share the same culture and practice the same religion. However, the people from CHT have developed a distinctive identity and are individualized by a different name "Marma". This development raises a number of historical questions. This paper explores how the Arakanese descendants became "Marma" in Bangladesh.

• SUVANNABHUMI
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.161-176
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• 2016

This paper discusses how the concept of "bilingualism" can be used to reflect changes within Bruneian society since the 1940's. It argues that within the context of a linguistically diverse population, the various indigenous groups of Brunei used to speak their own traditional languages, but eventually learned to speak the language of the politically dominant Malays. The Malay language became a necessary additional language, hence leading to a population which could speak their own languages, alongside the Malay language. But the rise of schools teaching in English in the 1970's began to sow seeds of a different kind of bilingualism, encouraged by language shift processes among ethnic minority groups.

• SUVANNABHUMI
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.51-77
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• 2016

This paper argues and shows how ethnic dimension is still very important in understanding political contestations in Malaysia. To do this, the paper reviews the political as well as population demography to back its assertion. And it is not necessarily improper to continue to use this ethnic lens, although the continued use of this approach has come under heavy criticism both within and from outside Malaysia. Raging debates in Malaysia and by Malaysians are still very much shaped by ethnicity and increasing regional differences. This is further compounded by other factors such as religion, language, and education. In fact, these tools have been more intensely used of late compared to any period before in history as they easily politicize and attract followers.

• SUVANNABHUMI
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.3-25
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• 2015

This paper reflects on the relationship between postcolonial criticism (PC) and Southeast Asian Studies. The emphasis is on the apparent premature retreat from PC as well as its unfulfilled promises and persistent pitfalls. I argue that it is premature to abandon PC because it remains relevant, even essential, in the context of the much ballyhooed age of "knowledge economy" or "information society." There is a need to take another look at its promises and to work towards fulfilling them, but at the same time be conscious of its persistent problems.

• SUVANNABHUMI
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.139-155
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• 2015

The relation of culture and development is complicated and multilayered. Inclusive development has been the national strategy of the government of President Benigno Aquino III. However, the role the culture is scarcely mentioned. This paper will try to contextualize development in Philippine history to further show the importance of national consciousness, ethnic cultures, indigenous cultures and modern culture,. This paper concludes that inclusive development of the Philippines will be achieved through glocalization, based on the creative reconstruction of cultures in and out of the Philippines.

• SUVANNABHUMI
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.19-36
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• 2014

This paper attempts to explore the multifaceted Islamic culture and ideology was shaped in different historical periods in Indonesia, particularly focusing on the revival of Islamic extremism and liberalism as well as the surging conflict among Islamic communities in the post-Suharto era. The paper asserts that in the post-Suharto era, progressive Muslim/Islamic liberalist is upholding pluralism, and pancasila is emerging as a positive force for Indonesia's peaceful transition to democracy, solidly defending national unity.

• SUVANNABHUMI
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.85-108
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• 2017

This paper argues that Thailand's internal colonial model is facing severe challenges: no longer is it so possible to suppress local and regional identities, or to submerge ethnic difference in an all-embracing but potentially suffocating blanket of "Thainess." In recent decades, Thailand's diverse localities have become increasingly assertive. This is most acutely the case in the insurgency-affected southern border provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, but also applies in the "red' (pro-Thaksin) dominated North and Northeast. As the old ruling elite faces serious legitimacy challenges, Thailand's emerging post-colonial politics may require a radical rethinking of the relationship between center and periphery.

• SUVANNABHUMI
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.65-87
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• 2021

This study attempted to investigate the effects of collectivism as an individual cultural value and leadership practices on employees' organizational commitment of six commercial banks in Vietnam. The study used collectivism and the implementation of five leadership practices as the independent variables, the three components of organizational commitment as the dependent variables and employees' personal factors served as controlling variables. The study utilized a quantitative method of research with questionnaires as the main data collection instrument. The findings of the study have revealed that the individual cultural value of collectivism positively, but to a marginal degree, affected the level of employees' organizational commitment. Among five leadership practices, only the implementation of encourage the heart, positively, but to a marginal degree, influenced employees' affective and normative commitment. The leadership practice of challenge the process had a negative impact on the employees' affective commitment. The personal factors of employees did not have an impact on organizational commitment. The findings and conclusions of this study may be used by the leaders to create the favorable working environment, improve the relationship between leaders and followers and to increase organizational commitment.

• SUVANNABHUMI
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.35-64
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• 2021

Government websites provide useful and timely information to the public such as government's history, organizational values, codes of ethics, public services, facts about public official, among others. Using language choice as framework, the study seeks to examine what language is used, in what contents, and in what kind of website. The study employed online observation in 235 Philippine government websites (.gov.ph) via content analysis. As a result, English is overwhelmingly used; while Filipino, the Philippines' national language, and only a handful of regional languages, are minimally used in the contents. Discussion will follow how multilingualism can improve the dissemination of information and communication more conveniently and efficiently from the government to its citizens.

• SUVANNABHUMI
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.89-110
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• 2021

The Ramayana is a very popular epic in Southeast Asia. It is the story of King Rama who must save his kidnapped wife, Sita. After Sita was abducted by the Demon King Ravana (Tosakanth) and taken to Lanka, Rama and his brother rescued her with the help of the monkey warriors, especially with the help of the Monkey King Hanuman. Along the way, the epic teaches Hindu life lessons. Today The Ramayana is told and retold through literature, theatre, orally, in movies, and is referenced in many other forms of popular culture. Nowadays, in Thailand, Ravana and Hanuman deconstruct the role of divine and become folk deities that also find their places in calendar art, advertising and stamps, etc. And in Vietnam, Ravana and Hanuman have become the two figures that can't be absent from Southern Vietnam Khmer ceremonies. In this article, our aim is to show how Ravana and Hanuman became symbols of popular culture (case studies in Thailand and Vietnam). The data provided in this article is drawn from field surveys with reliable reference resources.